102: Growing Weeders Into Leaders - Leadership Lessons from the Ground Level - Jeff McManus

Jeff McManus grows things. As the Director of Landscape Services at the University of Mississippi, he grows plants...he grows people...he grows ideas. Jeff is a problem-solver, understanding that doing more with less is a 21st century mandate. Faced with a multi-million dollar landscaping beautification project, a demand for excellence, high productivity, and with a stagnant budget, Jeff knew that growing the people was critical to growing the plants. Understanding that all humans either have or strive for the innate elements of Greatness, Resiliency, Opportunity and Wisdom, Jeff developed his GROW-theory into an impactful management and professional development leadership program for his staff. 

Taking his grounds employees, affectionately known as “weeders”, and developing them into “leaders” has been a joyous challenge that reaped acres of rewards in the form of national recognition by the Princeton Review, PGMS, Newsweek and every faculty, staff, student and visitor who has walked onto the Ole Miss Campus. Building on that momentum, Jeff has designed a professional development plan for his Weeders called Landscape University. His message rings true for any industry leader or manager looking to grow a high-performance and dedicated workforce.

Topics: 

• Weeders into Leaders, creating a culture change in the workplace
• Paycheck to Purpose
• Menial to Meaningful: How to cultivate pride and ownership
• Culture trumps strategy
• Great teams are getting beyond barriers to beliefs
• How companies and universities can build effective training programs
  and systems that promote an individual’s innate ability to grow

Connect with Jeff: 

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