Mississippi Turfgrass Association Magazine
DORMAN MOVE
Mississippi Turfgrass is the Mississippi Turfgrass Association magazine. Subscriptions are complimentary to MTA members. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, its board of directors, Mississippi Turfgrass, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as MTA members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in any issue of Mississippi Turfgrass. Copyright © 2024 by the Mississippi Turfgrass Association. Mississippi Turfgrass is published quarterly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of MTA. Presorted standard
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DO WHAT YOU CAN
hope you have had a successful start to the season with minimal winter damage. I’m not sure why, but our area of north Mississippi got hit with severe winter kill. I guess we were right on the line of not enough snow cover and still cold enough to cause injury. Oh well, what can we do when our careers are dependent on the weather? Take it with a grain of salt, do what you can with what the good Lord gives you, and thank Him for the opportunity to enjoy His works!
A special thanks to our sponsors, vendors, staff, and all others that made the Yard Dawg such a great success! Loads of hard work goes into planning golf tournaments or any other events, and it doesn’t go unnoticed. It’s always a joy to play at MSU’s course, especially on new greens. Fall is right around the corner, which will bring us to Turf Field Day on September 19 in Starkville.
Furthermore, we have a topic up for discussion (increasing MTA dues) that will be voted on at this year’s annual business meeting to be held at the Deep South Turf Expo in October. I encourage all of you that can to be there. Come for the great education, and while you’re there, support those that work so hard to help better our careers and professions.
Levi Jumper
2024 MTA President
EVENTS
Mississippi Turfgrass Association
Box 9555
MS State, MS 39762 Office: (662) 325-0517
Fax: (662) 325-2705 www.msturfassociation.org
Published by:
Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, TN 37064 Office: (615) 790-3718 Fax: (615) 794-4524 info@leadingedgecommunications.com
MISSISSIPPI TURFGRASS EDITOR Dr. Jay McCurdy MTA OFFICERS PRESIDENT Levi Jumper Tupelo National Golf Club (662) 213-6804
VICE-PRESIDENT / PRESIDENT ELECT Scott Hampton Laurel Country Club (601) 467-2718
SECRETARY-TREASURER Dr. Barry Stewart Mississippi State University Office: (662) 325-2725
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Will Arnett EMCC – Lion Hills (662) 418-1939
ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY Linda Wells Mississippi State University Box 9555
MS State. MS 39762 Office: (662) 325-0517 Cell: (662) 769-7558 lmw218@pss.msstate.edu
DIRECTORS
Chance Meredith / Sod Winstead Turf Farms (901) 430-5620
Zak Holloway / Golf Old Waverly Golf Club (662) 386-8042
Josh Smith / Grounds / Lawn Maintenance (601) 441-8029
Evan Berry / Central Mississippi Braves (228) 304-1234
Toby Thornton / South SiteOne Landscape Supply (601) 507-4254
Seth King / Industry
Ben Nelson Golf and Outdoor (601) 672-4796
EX-OFFICIO
Dr. Jay McCurdy / Faculty Advisor
Mississippi State University (662) 325-2331
OCTOBER 15 – 17, 2024 MISSISSIPPI COAST CONVENTION CENTER
A PREVIEW OF THE 2024 DSTE GENERAL SESSION SPEAKERS
We are really excited about our education program this year! Let me introduce you to our general session speakers listed below. In addition to the program on Wednesday, we have a full house on Thursday with our outstanding array of Breakout Session speakers.
Registration for exhibitors and attendees is open on-line at DeepSouthTurfExpo.org. Make plans now to attend. Getting together with friends and colleagues in Biloxi in the Fall is always a special time for our industry. And remember, the sessions are approved for continuing education and pesticide points. Don’t miss the 2024 Deep South Turf Expo!
Becky Grubbs Bowling, Ph.D.
Dr. Becky Grubbs Bowling is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) specializing in Turfgrass Science and Management. She completed her B.S. and M.S. in Horticulture at Texas Tech University in 2010 and 2013 respectively, before completing her Ph.D. in Crop and Soil Sciences at the University of Georgia in 2017. Bowling works in partnership with other faculty/ scientists, professional organizations, county extension agents, and others to conduct applied research and provide resources and programmatic support to the Tennessee turfgrass industry and beyond. Dr. Bowling’s program focuses on environmental turfgrass science with an emphasis on optimizing resource-use efficiency to promote environmentally and economically sustainable management practices for the turfgrass industry.
Nathan Crace, ASGCA
Nathan Crace, ASGCA, PLA, is the principal of The Watermark Golf Companies. He is a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects and in 2020 was elected to a seat on the ASGCSA Board of Governors. For more than 25 years, Nathan has been working with clients in all sectors of the golf industry from PGA Tour stops, private clubs and resorts to public courses, municipalities, Division I university and even the US Air Force. While Nathan has garnered numerous awards for this work over the quarter century, his primary objective is to exceed client expectations by over-delivering and working to promote the game of golf for future generations.
Derek Kaye
Derek Kaye is Founder of Whispr Innovations. Founded in January of 2020, WHISPR Innovations is a for-profit venture aimed at eliminating 1% of US air pollution. WHISPR’s first project is WHISPR Lawn, an initiative to revolutionize the landscaping industry with RaaS (robots as a service) model and battery-electric equipment. Derek is equipped with proficiency as a leader, automation consultant, public speaker, business developer, robotics enthusiast, and conflict resolution specialist.
Tony Mancuso, CGCS
Tony is the Director of Agronomy at Escondido Golf and Lake Club in Horseshoe Bay, Texas. He is a former graduate of Mississippi State University and has had an exceptional career at various courses all over the world including Belmont Country Club, Nine Bridges/Haesley Golf Club in South Korea, Cherokee Town and Country Club, Bellerive Country Club and New Albany Country Club.
Pawel Petelewicz, Ph.D.
Dr. Pawel Petelewicz is an Assistant Professor of Weed Science at the University of Florida where he evaluates new chemistries for their potential use in turfgrass crops. He tests novel products in combination with currently available herbicides to ensure their best utility and longevity. He evaluates the integration of chemical and non-chemical practices to enhance the efficacy and safety of weed control measures and the capacity of turf to withstand competition with weeds. His ultimate goal is to develop comprehensive weed control programs that are effective, safe and reduce the occurrence of herbicide-resistant weed populations.
Amy Wilber
Amy holds a B.S. in turfgrass science from The Ohio State University and a M.S. in weed science from Mississippi State University. She is currently an Extension Associate and Ph.D. student at Mississippi State University. Her research focuses on the evaluation of new herbicides, practical applications of herbicides for turfgrass producers, and remote sensing for turfgrass and weed detection.
Educational sessions for warm-season turf managers
Networking opportunities / golf tournaments / softball tournament / tailgate celebration
Tradeshow featuring industry suppliers
CEU and pesticide recertification points
Over 20 Educational sessions on the latest Turfgrass management topics
Tradeshow with over 100 exhibitors featuring products and services for the Turfgrass industry
Business Meetings for ATA, ATRF, MTA, LMGCSA
Networking opportunities with industry peers and friends
CEUs and Pesticide Recertification Points
THIS REGIONAL SHOW IS DESIGNED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE TURF MANAGER INCLUDING
Golf Course Superintendents, Sports Field Managers (Institutions, Universities, Park and Recreation), Lawn Care Operators, Landscapers, Sod Producers, Grounds Managers and Right of Way Professionals
Aerate and Play Right Away!
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DryJect® makes a big difference in playability … right away!
2024 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
8
8
7
3
3 pm New Tools in the Poa Management Toolbox • Dr. Becky Bowling, University of Tennessee
3:30 pm Trends in Bunker Renovation, Re-Design, and Restoration • Nathan Crace, ASGCA, PLA, The Watermark Golf Companies
4 pm High Tech Meets Turfgrass Management: Trends to Watch For • Amy Wilbur, Mississippi State University
4:30 pm Hasta La Vista, Weeds: Terminating Weed Control Issues with AI-Based Targeted Applications: Achievements, Aspirations, Anticipations (and Roadblocks Ahead) • Dr. Pawel Petelewicz, University of
4 – 6 pm Tradeshow Closing & Exhibitor Move Out Dinner on your own
5 pm Alabama Pesticide Sign-Out
THURSDAY, OCTOBER
8 am
9
10 am
11 am
WATER You Doing about Water Quality
Dr. Becky Bowling, University of Tennessee
Dr. J. Bryan Unruh, University of Florida
Winter Management of Ultradwarf Bermudagrass Putting Greens
Dr. Eric DeBoer, Louisiana State University
Managing Ultradwarf Greens
Tony Mancuso, Escondido Golf and Lake Club
12
Overseeding Sports Fields: Agronomic Considerations
Dr. Barry Stewart, Mississippi State University
What to Choose From and What to Wait For: Trends in WarmSeason Turfgrass Breeding
Dr. Marta Pudzianowska, Mississippi State University
Traffic Tolerance of New Bermudagrass Cultivars
Dr. Dave Han, Auburn University
Overseeded and Non-Overseeded Sports Fields
Dr. Scott McElroy, Auburn University
Dr. Jay McCurdy, Mississippi State University and Dr. Pawel Petelewicz, University of Florida
Cultivating Sustainable Landscapes with Integrated Pest Management
Dr. Eric DeBoer, Louisiana State University
Robotic Lawn Mowing & Battery Electric Landscaping –Pushing for Change
Derek Kaye, Whispr Innovations
Herbicide Headaches: Understanding Possible Reasons for Herbicide Failures
Dr. Pawel Petelewicz, University of Florida
Potential Strategies for Reducing Fertilizer and Irrigation Inputs
Dr. AJ Lindsey, University of Florida
Mowing Technology for Sod Farmers
Dr. Scott McElroy, Auburn University
Optimal Nitrogen Rates and Compost Utilization for Sod Production
Dr. AJ Lindsey, University of Florida
Soil Health Characteristics in Sod Production
Jason Eberhard, Mississippi State University
Landscapes are Changing: Are Sod Producers Prepared?
Dr. J. Bryan Unruh, University of Florida
ACTIVITIES & ACCOMMODATIONS
TAILGATE CELEBRATION
Kick off the Expo with your peers at Tailgate Celebration at The Preserve Golf Club, opening night, Tuesday, October 15th. Sponsors will be cooking up some tailgate favorites for you to enjoy while mingling and networking with attendees from all over the southeast. This event is free and open to all attendees, exhibitors, and guests. Pre-registration is required to help plan food. Directions: 8901 Highway 57, Vancleave, MS 39565. Just 17 miles from Biloxi, travel east on I-10 and take exit 57 / MS-57. Turn north and the golf club will be two miles on the left.
SCRAMBLE GOLF TOURNAMENT
The scramble golf tournament will be held on Tuesday, October 15th at The Preserve Golf Club. The Preserve is an 18-hole course which has been integrated within an 1800-acre native preserve full of live oaks, cypress swamps, long leaf pines and native grass prairies and designed by Jerry Pate. Bring your clubs and prepare yourself for a wonderful afternoon of golf with your peers. Lunch, two drink tickets and two mulligans will be included in your registration (and the Tailgate Celebration will follow immediately after play). Preregistration is required. Directions: 8901 Highway 57, Vancleave, MS 39565. Just 17 miles from Biloxi, travel east on I-10 and take exit 57 / MS-57. Turn north and the golf club will be two miles on the left.
CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT
We are bringing back the Cornhole Tournament again this year. Register in advance for this fun competition on the tradeshow floor. Registration is $25 per person and you can request to be paired with your favorite cornhole buddy. The tournament will be conducted on Wednesday, October 16th between 11am – 3pm on the tradeshow floor in the MCCC.
SOFTBALL GAME
Interested in a friendly game of softball with your peers? We are hosting a softball game where anyone who registers can play a fun game of softball at the Gulfport Sports Complex on Tuesday, October 15th. Teams will be randomly assigned and provided with team T-shirts. Must register in advance and bring your glove. Directions: 17200 16th Street, Gulfport, MS 39503. From the MCCC, travel west on Highway 90 for 3.2 miles and turn right on Cowan Road (MS 605). Travel 4.4 miles to I-10 and travel west for 3.5 miles. Take exit 34B onto US-49N for .6 miles. Turn left onto Landon Road for 1.3 miles and turn left into 16th Street. Travel .4 miles, the complex will be on the left.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Our host hotel is the Beau Rivage, a Four-Diamond development by MGM Resorts International that sits directly on the Gulf of Mexico in Biloxi. The Deep South Turf Expo has secured a discounted room rate of $109 for Expo attendees. Make your reservations directly by using our exclusive link found by clicking the red button at www. DeepSouthTurfExpo.org. It is important that you DO NOT use a third party provider/ discounter to make your reservation; only use our link. Don’t delay—our room rate is only available until September 23, 2024.
The Mississippi Coast Convention Center is our home for the educational sessions and tradeshow at the Deep South Turf Expo. It is a multi-purpose, state-of-the-art facility that sits directly across the Gulf of Mexico just 5 miles west of The Beau Rivage at 2350 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, MS 39531.
With over 20 educational sessions to choose from, plus a tradeshow with more than 100 exhibitors, this regional event is designed to benefit every turfgrass manager. Learn the latest and greatest research and management practices for growing the best southern turf. We welcome all sod producers, lawn care operators, landscapers, golf course superintendents an d sports field managers to Biloxi, Mississippi for our seventh annual Deep South Turf Expo. Look inside for more details and registration information.
A MERGER THAT HAS TURF AT HEART
Aquatrols® and the turf division of Precision Laboratories™, two of the leading brands in turf management, have merged to form The Aquatrols Company. This merger brings together the most comprehensive portfolio of soil surfactant and adjuvant products in the industry.
MISSISSIPPI COAST CONVENTION CENTER, BILOXI, MS
STEP 1 – Attendee Information
Name: Company: Address:
Includes all educational sessions, tradeshow, tailgate celebration, tradeshow lunch and continental breakfasts. Note: On-line registration closes on Friday, October 4th!
STEP 3 – Ticketed Events
paying by check, please make out to DSTE and include with registration form. Refund request must be received in writing to t he registrar no later than October 1, 2024. Refunds will be issued minus a $75 administrative fee. No refunds will be issued for requests after October 1, 2024. Remit registration form to: Deep South Turf Expo, P.O. Box 2323, Auburn, AL 36831 For assistance with registration, please call 334-821-3000 or email: info@DeepSouthTurfExpo.org Please complete one form per person. Registration is available online at www.DeepSouthTurfExpo.org
Better Built. Quality Results. Period.
DORMAN MOVE THE
By Barry Stewart, Ph.D.
Ch-ch-changes
Just gonna have to be a different man
Time may change me
But I can’t trace time — from “Changes” by David Bowie
Forthe last 25 years, I have had the privilege of teaching many courses in Dorman Hall and the Dorman Hall Greenhouse classroom at Mississippi State University. In that time, I have not taught in another building at MSU, save for a few labs in the classroom/crew room at the MSU Golf Course. This will change. On May 17, Dorman Hall was locked, and a two- to three-year (most likely three-year) renovation has begun.
Phase I of the project will upgrade the HVAC system in the building. All the air-handling equipment currently located on the roof of the building will be upgraded and installed in the basement. In addition, the building will be added to the chilled water loop on the west side of campus, which will save on heating and cooling costs. There will also be some roof work. The budget for Phase I is $32 million. Phase II of the project, if funded, would add sizable restrooms to the large auditorium end of the building; these would be accessible during football games and other events. Staining the building brick to a more maroon hue and adding a roof façade might also be included in Phase II.
So, what happens to the MSU Turf Team? The turf faculty and graduate students and the Mississippi Turfgrass Association Office have been moved to the 5th floor of Rice Hall. Our labs have been moved to Walker Engineering Building. I am concerned that we will be isolated from our undergraduate students. Will they come to visit us in a building that they do not have classes in? It will not be as easy to just pop in after a class. The office space in Rice differs from that of Dorman, square footage-wise; the new offices include storage space and are a bit bigger. Now, there is less distance between offices (the long dimension of each office is door-to-back-wall), but the rooms are narrower. Should you come to visit us, we will have room to meet you.
Walker Engineering Lab
South Side / Back of Rice Hall
The Junction, across Creelman Street and North of Dorman Hall
The Horticulture, Soils, and Forage/Alternative Crops groups will also be officed in Rice Hall; the Labs for Horticulture and Soils are also in Walker. The Forage/Alternative Crops labs will be at the Forage Unit on South Farm. In the interim, the Weed Science Team has moved their offices and labs to Hill Poultry Science Building. The PSS administrative offices are situated in Walker Engineering.
Although there have been many changes, our mailing address and phone numbers will remain the same.
This move has been a massive undertaking, and we thank Dr. Cory Gallo, Assistant Dean and Assistant MAFES Director; Dr. Darrin Dodds, PSS Department Head, Interim Associate Director, and MAFES Operations lead; and Mr. Eric Laiche, Building Manager, for their leadership in facilitating this move. Every week since February, there has been a dumpster or a moving truck at Dorman Hall. The move was a difficult thing, especially because we were all forced to make decisions about what to dispose of and what to keep. This was probably harder on more experienced (older) faculty who had been in Dorman for 20 or 30 years. During that amount of time, one accumulates a lot of stuff. Many books that once graced faculty offices ended up in recycling, as their information was either outdated or available online. The change in analytical methods could also be seen. We used to use wet chemistry to analyze soil and plant tissue. Many procedures have since been replaced by simpler automated analyses, so obsolete glassware and chemicals were disposed of.
Dorman Hall was built on the former location of Dudy Noble Field. The baseball field was closed in 1964, and Dorman Hall was constructed in 1965 and 1966. When it opened, it housed Forestry and Plant Sciences. I am sure things have changed in the building through the years; for example, I know that the second floor was mostly administrative at one time. Of course, at that time there were many more departments, Agronomy which housed Turf, Horticulture, Weed Science and Plant Pathology, and Soils; these were combined to form Plant and Soil Sciences in 1993. Biochemistry was also located in Dorman and Forestry moved out when Thompson Hall was completed in 1993.
When the doors closed for renovation, Dorman Hall housed the Department of Plant and Soil Science and the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology. Approximately 200 faculty members and graduate and post-doctoral students had offices in Dorman Hall. Each day, Dorman classrooms accommodated approximately 1,000 students from across the campus. This semester, my Plant Science Course followed a section of Sociology 1503. I know the closing of Dorman Hall will be felt across campus; Dorman 140 (the spacious auditorium) and Dorman 128 are two heavily used large classrooms, and that type of room is in limited supply.
It is likely that the parking lot behind Dorman Hall will be used as a staging area for the renovation and will probably be dug up at some point to accommodate the chilled water loop. Parking for the greenhouse will be in the south side parking lot.
Next semester, I will be teaching courses in the Simrall Electrical Engineering Building (a building I have never set foot in) and Allen Hall. (I find it interesting that none of the Engineering Buildings are called halls?) Thankfully, the Dorman Greenhouses will still be open, and the greenhouse classroom will host a heavy load of PSS classes. The Turf Seminar will meet in the
AT RIGHT
Parking Lot Entrance to Dorman Hall.
BELOW
Plaque honoring Clarence Dorman from the Dorman Hall lobby.
greenhouse classroom, as well as the labs for turfgrass management. Teaching in new buildings will make us more organized. Not being able to run back to the office for a forgotten USB drive or phone (for two-factor security) will not be possible.
Rice Hall, our new office space, is a former women’s dormitory that opened in 1968 and housed about 500 students. The building was named for Nannie Herndon Rice, who worked to build and uplift the library facilities at MSU. She also served as secretary of the Mississippi Women’s Suffrage Movement. Rice Hall was slated to be torn down in the summer of 2020, but
that was delayed due to COVID-19. Then, other needs led to its renovation. Currently, the Psychology Department occupies the first and second floors of Rice Hall. The Department of Kinesiology now utilizes space on the third and fourth floors while they wait for completion of their new home, The Duff Center, at the site of the former McCarthy Gym. Most of the PSS personnel are housed on the 5th floor of Rice Hall, but we will also have offices on the 7th floor. There is a parking lot on the south side of the building that is not within the gated inner campus; should you come for a campus visit, we will most likely meet you at Rice.
The Walker Engineering Building, which once housed the Department of Aerospace Engineering, is a three-story Mid-Century modern academic building completed in 1961. It was named in honor of Dr. Buz M. Walker (1863-1949), a member of the first graduating class in 1883, a renowned mathematician, the first Dean of Engineering from 1902 to 1925, Vice President of what is now MSU from 1913 to 1925, and the seventh President of MSU from 1925 to 1930. It was designated a Mississippi Landmark on December 6, 2019. One space on the first floor was a hydraulics laboratory which required extensive cleaning to make it ready for our use. We will have about one-third of the square footage of lab space we had in Dorman. We will likely do more sample preparation at the North Farm so that a reduced volume of material can be taken to Walker for analysis. Parking at Walker will be a challenge, as the lot is located within the gated inner campus with restricted access.
These are big changes. Please bear with us as we adjust to them. We will continue to engage in our turfgrass teaching, research, and outreach efforts to the best of our abilities. Thank you for your continued support. •
ABOVE – Plaque in lobby of Walker Engineering Lab
BELOW – Model Rocket Display in Lobby of Walker Engineering Lab.
Agra Turf, Inc. ........................................ 26 www.agrainc.com
Beard Equipment 3 www.beardequipment.com/locations/mobile
Chattahoochee Turf Products 15 www.chattahoocheeturfproducts.com
DryJect 9
Greene County Fertilizer Co. 13 www.greenecountyfert.com
Harrell’s LLC Back Cover www.harrells.com
Jackson Sand 15 www.jacksonsand.com
Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation Back Cover www.jerrypate.com
Progressive Turf Equipment Inc. 15 www.progressiveturfequip.com
Regal Chemical Company Inside Front Cover www.regalchem.com
Riebeling Farms, Inc. ............................. 21 riebelingfarmsinc@gmail.com
Smith Seed Services 13 www.smithseed.com
Sod Solutions 7 www.SodSolutionsPro.com
Sur-Line Turf, Inc. .................................. 21 www.surlineturf.com
The Aquatrols Company 13 www.aquatrols.com
The Turf Zone 23, 25 www.theturfzone.com
Weed Man 11 www.weedmanfranchise.com
Winstead Turf 5 www.winsteadturffarms.com
21 Teams and Beautiful Weather – 2024 Yard Dawg Classic was a Huge Success!
Held at the Mississippi State University Golf Course, the tournament was well supported by the turf alumni! As always, the Mississippi Turfgrass Association appreciates the help of its loyal sponsors! Jimmy McPherson, Jake Sorrells and staff had the course in excellent playing conditions. Tim Basel and the Pro Shop staff were invaluable in helping to make the tournament a success. •
Winning teams in the Zoysia Flight
Winning teams in the Bermuda Flight
2nd Place: Turf Team
1st Place: Beard Equipment Company
Group getting instructions, ready to play!
2nd Place: East Mississippi Community College
1st Place: Guy & Agnew
7,178 2023
Visits on The Turf Zone website in 2023 !
13.29k
Page visits on The Turf Zone website in 2023 !
105
Podcasts produced in 2023 featuring timely topics for those on the go!
41
4 Million
Social Media Impressions in 2023 !
14
State coverage east of the Mississippi !
136,159
Digital Publication Impressions in 2023 !
23,307
Total Digital Publication Reads
MSU Students Amy Wilber, Annie Boals and Will Smart monitoring the Ben Nelson Hole-in-One Contest. Sadly, another year without a winner!
Closest to Pin Winners Pictured: Logan Pannell (not pictured Jimmy Shannon & Roger Mitchell)
Long Drive Winner: Jacob Wilkinson
Straightest Drive Winner: Will Baumgartner
TAKING
A TO LEADERSHIP TEAM APPROACH
By Neal Glatt, CSP, ASM
A
re you feeling tired lately? Perhaps the thought of another season just seems to weigh heavier this year than the past few years? It’s a common feeling right now. With all the pressures we must face as sport field managers, from the weather to the economy to the job market to the supply chain, it seems like change is the only constant in a world that is becoming more uncertain every day. Fortunately, we don’t have to navigate it alone.
This feeling of being depleted or exhausted often arises from workplace stress that hasn’t been successfully managed. For leaders, the issue isn’t necessarily that there is too much workplace stress, but rather that they often try to manage all the stresses themselves. It’s almost like the more they try to do, the worse the problem gets.
Some leaders have said, “It’s lonely at the top.” This sentiment is a selfcreated mistake, and certainly not the best way to lead. Great leaders understand that by building real connections with their people, they foster trust, loyalty, and development that helps the whole organization thrive in difficult situations. They create a team environment where everyone can say that they have a “best friend at work” and engagement peaks.
When a whole team is united and shares a common set of values by which to make decisions, it becomes much easier for leaders to trust others with leadership initiatives. Instead of driving each change, process, or idea themselves, leaders can feel free to allow other team members drive initiatives. Sharing the load allows everyone to better manage the workplace stress and work can become enjoyable again.
What’s more, the best leaders will recognize the individual strengths that their team members contribute and often discover that delegating responsibility for driving initiatives doesn’t only free up time and energy but has the potential to deliver better results as well. There are usually only a few things that we can do great in life, so partnering with those who have complementary talents allows our teams to reach new heights with a better range of competencies.
Have you allowed those around you to realize their potential by driving important initiatives? Or are you still trying to muster the energy to shoulder the entire load yourself? Let’s make this season our best yet by empowering those around us to shine and become refreshed by working as a member of a true team. •
Neal Glatt is Managing Partner of GrowTheBench.com , an online training platform for the green industry. Connect with Neal at NealGlatt@gmail.com.
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