4 Lessons I Learned about Project Management from Gardening
Over the years, I’ve come to realize that gardening and project management have a lot in common. Both involve planning, preparation, and a whole lot of ongoing maintenance. And while there are plenty of resources out there on how to be a successful project manager, I thought I’d share a few lessons I’ve learned from my own experiences in the garden.
- Have a plan. Before you start any project—whether it’s planting a garden or launching a new product—it’s important to have a plan. What do you want to achieve? What are your deadlines? Who is going to be involved? By taking the time to answer these questions upfront, you’ll save yourself a lot of headaches down the road.
- Get organized. Once you have a plan in place, it’s time to get organized. In the garden, this might mean making a list of all the supplies you need and mapping out where you’re going to plant each type of plant. In business, it might mean creating project timelines and assigning tasks to team members. The key is to create a system that works for you and your team.
- Be flexible. Even with the best-laid plans, things can (and will) go wrong. A plant might die, the weather might not cooperate, or someone on your team might get sick. When these things happen—and they will happen—it’s important to be flexible and adjust your plan accordingly. The same goes for project management; sometimes, you just have to roll with the punches.
- Persevere. Last but not least, gardening (and project management) is not for the faint of heart. There will be days (or even weeks) when it feels like everything is going wrong. But if you persevere and keep working towards your goal, eventually you will see results.
So there you have it—four lessons I’ve learned about project management from gardening. Of course, these are just a few of the many similarities between the two disciplines; there are plenty more where these came from. But whether you’re managing a team or tending to a garden, I hope these lessons will serve you well in your pursuits!