What Propagating Plants Taught Me About Regenerative Leadership

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This morning, as I was tending to my little plant propagation station, I found myself drawing parallels to the work I do supporting women leaders at the edge of change.

For over a decade now, I’ve been collecting cuttings from friends’ houseplants and yard plants, patiently rooting them, and growing new thriving plants to gift. It’s a labor of love that has taught me so much - lessons that I now weave into my approach as a leadership advisor.

#1: First and foremost, I’ve learned that I can’t treat every plant species or even every cutting the same. Just like the unique individuals I work with, each plant has its own needs, quirks, and optimal conditions for growth. Just this morning I learned that I was overwatering my jade starts while my heart-leaf philodendron loves starting in water (with caveats).

#2: Patience and regular check-ins are also key. I can’t just shove a cutting in some soil, water it, and expect it to thrive. I have to tenderly observe, make adjustments based on feedback, and be willing to wait for the roots to establish in their own time. The same goes for the leadership journeys of my clients - it’s a process that unfolds at its own pace, not on my timeline, or even theirs, frankly.

#3: And of course, the right “soil” conditions are paramount. Nutrient-rich soil and non-chlorinated water make all the difference between a vibrant, thriving plant and a sickly one. In my work, this means creating optimal environments for my clients to reconnect with themselves, realign with their true essence, and rise to their fullest potential.

#4: Perhaps most importantly, I’ve learned that if I only water what I can see, I’m often missing the roots - the unseen foundation that’s essential for true nourishment and growth. It’s the same with leadership development. We have to be willing to tend to the inner landscape, not just the outer manifestations.

#5: Finally, there’s the art of pruning and composting what no longer serves. Just like I have to remove dead leaves and spent blooms to make space for new growth, I support my clients in shedding the limiting beliefs, behaviors, and ways of being that are holding them back. It’s in that process of letting go that the real magic happens.

So as I look at my little propagation station this morning, I’m reminded of the deep wisdom that can be found in the natural world. The principles of regenerative leadership - tailoring our approach, practicing patience, creating the right conditions, honoring the unseen, and composting the old to make way for the new - are all there, just waiting to be learned.

What have you learned from propagating plants that relates to your own growth and leadership journey? I’d love to hear your insights!