Cultivating a Leaderful Mindset
In all organizations we’re used to thinking in terms of local and district managers, directors,
foremen, supervisors, and crews. There’s usually one person calling the shots. But what if
leadership wasn’t a position—it was a mindset? What if everyone on your team felt responsible,
empowered, and engaged?
That’s the heart of the leaderful mindset.
Leaderful organizations don’t wait for one person to make every decision. Instead, they
encourage everyone to think like a leader—taking ownership, offering ideas, and making things
better right where they are.
I’ve seen this in action on some of the best grounds crews I’ve worked with. The most
successful teams aren’t just following orders—they’re thinking ahead, solving problems on the
spot, and taking pride in the details. They see something, say something, and most importantly,
do something.
But let’s be clear: this mindset doesn’t mean chaos or no structure. Quite the opposite. It thrives
in a culture with clear expectations, accountability, and trust. You have to set the stage. Train your people. Encourage questions. Celebrate when someone steps up.
I’ve used seasonal planting as an example before, so I’ll use it again. When the seasons
dictate change, we always have one person prepping the plants; one person placing them next
to the hole and another person is planting them – we operate as a system. But breaking it down,
what we see is a leaderful team, displaying:
-Shared ownership: Each crew member takes initiative in their role without waiting for
top-down direction.
-Self-organization: They instinctively fall into roles—prep, place, plant—based on real-
time needs.
-Sustained momentum: Their collaborative rhythm elevates productivity, efficiency, and
job satisfaction.
Jon Gordon said: “Great leaders don’t succeed because they are great. They succeed because they bring out the greatness in others.”
Here’s what it boils down to: When your team owns the mission, you multiply your impact.
With a leaderful mindset, you can create a steady stream of leaders prepared to not just follow
directions but take the lead when needed. We need to ask ourselves: Are we growing followers,
or cultivating leaders?
Give it a try and at your next team meeting, ask one crew member to lead the meeting. It’s a
small step that sends a big message: You are a leader too.
Keep leading the way,
Jeff
