Using grass and trees as metaphors for healthy growth, this presentation derives lessons contrasting some of the prevailing wisdom needed for the success of organizations.

1. The Poorest Level Determines the Overall Performance Ali Anani

2. I was looking at a stressed tree I noticed how vulnerable the tree was to insects and parasites The Trigger for this Presentation

3. Stressed people suffer. Are they analogous to trees in that stressed people are more prone to diseases? If so, what may we learn from stressed trees and grass? Are We the Same?

4. The Inquisitive Journey Began

5. Soon, I discovered the wealth of information that we may extract from stressed trees and grass. In fact, management may draw lot of lessons Stressed Trees Teach us a Lot

6. I was fortunate that my search led me to the excellent presentation by Paul Pugliese. It directed me to many conclusions I draw in this presentation Learning from Grass

7. The Perfect Organization as Derived from the Perfect Turf Grass Lawn Turf Grass Organizational-Equivalent No weeds No insects No diseases No watering No trimming Green year-round No unneeded staff or toxic staff No harmful employees No sickening organization No false decisions such as false incentives No downsizing Productive year-round

8. The Perfect Organization as Derived from the Perfect Turf Grass Lawn- 2 Turf Grass Organizational-Equivalent Perfection is impossible, so how to handle deviations? Analogously, how to handle organizational imperfections?

9. Shared Problems Top Five Problems Of Turf Grass Equivalent Organizational Problems People (70%) Fungal Diseases (15%) Weeds (10%) Insects (5%) Nematodes (<1%) People Toxic employees who assume the role of fungi Employees who act like harmful weeds Employees who specialize in carrying rumors and bad news Employees who are hard to classify See Anani and Bas de Baar for more information

10. Do Organizations Know their Identity? Turf Grass Lawn Identity Organizational Identity If the client doesn’t even know what kind of lawn they have, there’ a good chance they caused the problem! Many organizations create their problems because they do not identify their personality and what business they are in

11. Steps to Healthy Turf Grass and Healthy Organizations Turf Grass Steps Organizational Steps Prepare soil properly Identify their proper field and prepare it accordingly

12. Steps to Healthy Turf Grass and Healthy Organizations Turf Grass Steps Organizational Steps Prepare soil properly- insofar, application amount application timing and desired growth rate/quality Identify their proper field and prepare it accordingly. Marketing should identify fertile soils to prepare them for the business and to ensure their readiness to accept the offered services or products

13. Steps to Healthy Turf Grass and Healthy Organizations Turf Grass Fertility Considerations Organizational Considerations To try and push growth on drought-stressed grass To try and push growth on drought-stressed grass

14. Begin with High Quality Staff Use High Quality Seeds Organizational Considerations To try and push growth on drought-stressed grass Poor employees give poor performance

15. The poor selection of staff is costly. See this great calculator to visualize the cost of staff waste The Cost of Poor Quality Staff

16. Mowing Your Organization Mowing Your Organization Organizations Mow at the recommended cutting height and only when the grass is dry. Mow your offers and employees to a suitable level to renew the organization and protect it from drought of demand Mow your offers and employees to a suitable level to renew the organization and protect it from drought of demand

17. Avoid the Wisdom “the Best Gifts Are those that Come in Small Packages Turf Grass Organizations Frequent watering is the number one cause of disease problems in home lawns Remember that short, frequent irrigation creates a water addiction for grass roots Only when the organization is stressed water it. If not, organizational disease will spread. Avoid “watering” addiction for employees

18. Compaction Problems Turf Grass Organizations Soil compaction is a major root stress, water stress, and nutrient stress to turf grass. Stressed grasses are more likely to get insect or disease problems. Stressed employees are more likely to get diseases. Absenteeism, high drug invoices and frequent doctor visits are testimonial of the cost of stress. Avoid compacting employees in small areas

19. Covering Problems Turf Grass Organizations Thatch can suffocate roots and can lead to shallow rooting over time Do not suffocate the organization by covering its problems. Such practices will eat up the potential of the organization and may lead to its “kill”. Staff will be stressed and less immune to diseases

20. The previous discussion revealed how poor work planning stress employees. Stress expresses itself as emotional stress, physical stress, behavioral stress and others Consequences of Improper Management

21. Stressed trees are far more attacked by insects, fungus, drought and thermal stress than healthy trees So, are employees- stress them and get high rate of turn-over and absenteeism. Employees do show clay-like behavior, as Anani demonstrated Humans Resemble Stressed Trees

22. The lowest level of performance determines the overall performance of the organization Stress lowers the weakest level much more readily than it does with the high level performers Avoid this costly practice Conclusion