In my role here at Landscape Ontario, I stand amidst a community of hard working and passionate entrepreneurs. They are dedicated to their work and committed to running high performing, well-respected businesses that connect people to their outdoor living spaces.

Back in April, 70 leaders from the Landscape Ontario community joined us for the annual Peer to Peer Network Spring Leadership Summit. To help guide our day, we brought on former U.S. Navy nuclear submarine officer and CEO of manufacturing facility Peak Demand, Jon S. Rennie. The event focused on inspiring landscape business leaders to be conscious of their impact on their staff, their influence as leaders and staying true to their vision while navigating everyday challenges.

All of this is crucial to empowering teams to do their work with excellence, knowing they have your full support. Empowered teams are high performing, have less drama and are more stable.

Whether our influence is positive or not, understanding how what we do impacts our teams is vital to our ability to lead. Do you notice how the conversation or behaviour changes when you enter a room? That’s exactly what I’m referring to. Your people notice the big and the small things you do. Whether you realize it or not, everything you do has an impact.

Jon’s focus for our workshop was to make sure that all 70 of us knew we “have the watch” over our organizations and our people. This means that as leaders we take full responsibility for outcomes, while ensuring our people are supported and empowered to do their best work.

Running a landscape business comes with a unique set of challenges — from the seasonal nature of our work to economic pressures. These stressors can strain workplace dynamics, but they also remind us of the importance of supporting one another. At Landscape Ontario, we are committed to providing resources and guidance to our members to help them navigate these challenges while maintaining a respectful and safe work culture.

Safety is the bedrock of the landscape horticulture trades. It’s not just about wearing high-visibility clothing, hard hats, hearing and eye protection or safety boots. It’s about creating an atmosphere where everyone feels safe, secure and valued. We understand the well-being of our people is important, and it’s our obligation as employers to make sure our people are safe. From the moment a seedling is planted to the time a landscape design comes to fruition, safety will always be at the core of what we do.

What about investing in training for our people? Regular training sessions and awareness programs are vital to equip our people with the tools they need to be successful in their work. This includes the most entry-level, junior positions we have. Technical and safety training are vital, but so is training that includes respect in the workplace. It’s through education and training that we can transform our workplaces into safe havens for creativity and collaboration.

We tend to our businesses and the landscapes we shape; let’s also tend to the garden of our workplace culture. Let’s water it with respect, shine upon it with integrity and remove any weeds that may sprout. Our collective obligation as employers is not just to the land we sculpt, but to the people who pour their sweat and soul into it.

Together, we can create a thriving industry where safety and respect are as natural and essential as the earth beneath our feet. Let’s continue to grow, not just in our landscape horticulture endeavours, but in our commitment to a workplace that stands as a testament to our values of safety, respect and kindness.
 

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