Question: I’ve been running my landscape business for several years. At first, growth felt easy, but as I’ve gotten over $1 million in revenue, I feel like I’ve stagnated. What can I do to increase my leadership skills and drive growth in my business? — Reader-Submitted Question
Answer: In working with hundreds of landscape businesses, I’ve seen firsthand how common this issue is for most owners. At the front end of your business, when scaling just means finding a few new clients, growth can feel easy. And then you hit the revenue wall — the first one is usually right around the $1 million mark.
This is when you ask yourself: Do I keep working longer hours? Is it time to invest in higher-level team members? How do I keep growing and staying profitable?
What I’ve discovered is that in the landscape industry — where the only limitations of our business are us as leaders — evolving your leadership skills is essential to helping your business experience healthy growth in every market. And, if this business has taught me anything, it’s that true leadership isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about knowing where to find them and how to implement them.
Here are four effective strategies to elevate your leadership capabilities and drive your business forward:
- Create habits for learning and growth. Leadership is an evolving skill set that requires continuous development. Make it a habit to set aside time to increase your knowledge regularly. I know it can feel difficult to step outside of your business to sharpen your saw, but this one habit is critical for strong leadership.
Whether it’s a leadership conference, workshop or even listening to industry-specific podcasts, investing time in learning will keep you informed about new strategies and tools that can benefit your business. This commitment to ongoing learning also reinforces your role as a leader who values growth and adaptability, inspiring your team to do the same. - Set clear goals and expectations. Effective leadership hinges on clarity. Establish clear, measurable goals for your business and communicate them regularly to your team. This approach aligns everyone’s efforts and helps track progress and make necessary adjustments. Setting expectations and regularly reviewing goals with your team ensures that everyone remains focused and motivated, contributing to overall business growth. Clarity aligns efforts, drives performance and fosters a focused, motivated team.
- Practice financial discipline. Effective leadership requires a strong grasp of financial management. By maintaining robust financial practices — through careful budgeting, financial planning and performance monitoring — you can make strategic decisions that support business growth and stability. Sound financial practices safeguard the future of your business and enhance your credibility as a leader who manages resources wisely.
- Join a peer group. One of the most powerful ways to sharpen your leadership skills is to connect with other successful landscape business owners through peer groups. Engaging with other professionals who face similar challenges provides valuable insights and diverse perspectives. At McFarlin Stanford, our ACE Peer Groups offer a structured environment where you can share experiences, tackle common issues and gain actionable advice. This collaboration fosters personal growth and helps you stay abreast of industry trends and best practices. A supportive network can help you navigate complex business issues and stay ahead in this ever-changing industry.
By integrating these strategies into your leadership approach, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the complexities of running a successful, scalable landscape business. Remember, leadership is a journey of continuous improvement.
For personalized advice or to delve deeper into these topics, feel free to email me your questions (support@mcfarlinstandford.com) or consider joining us at ACE
Discovery in New Orleans this November.
<p>The post Ask McFarlin Stanford: Keeping growth going first appeared on Landscape Management.</p>