Hello everyone,

Next up on our journey through Leadership Seeds—Harvesting the Transformative Lessons of Macie and the Magic Veggies, it’s time for the Harvest Seed.

Like the others we’ve explored (Growth, Gratitude, Content, Wisdom, Discovery, Passion, Relationships, Process, Recognition), this seed plays a key role in helping us grow as leaders by recognizing and celebrating the culmination of hard work. Understanding the value of acknowledging achievements and pausing to focus on lessons learned is an effective way to prepare for your next task and set the stage for future success.

A line from the story: Time to pick my magic veggies. Harvest time has come! 

In Macie and the Magic Veggies, Macie feels exhilaration and fulfillment as she reaches the moment of harvesting the vegetables she has nurtured. This moment highlights the culmination of her efforts, learning from Farmer Lundyn on the farm, and the rewarding experience of seeing her hard work bear fruit—well, actually, veggies!

As a leader, I’ve come to appreciate the importance of pausing not only to celebrate achievements but also to leverage that moment to recharge and prepare. However, in my early career, I often leaned too heavily on the “What’s Next?” mentality, inspired by watching President Bartlet from The West Wing. I loved how those words instilled focus and a sense of urgency, driving his team to take action. While this approach kept me and my team moving forward, it sometimes came at the cost of not fully appreciating our accomplishments and adequately preparing for our next project.

Eventually, I learned that taking time to savor the results of hard work is essential. It’s about acknowledging the effort, processing the lessons learned, and recharging before tackling the next challenge. One quote that helped me embrace this mindset is “slow is smooth, smooth is fast,” attributed to the Navy SEALS. This reminds me to use the harvest period as my “slow” time, allowing for reflection and celebration so I can be more effective when moving on to “What’s Next?”

Here are a few ways to plant and nurture the Harvest Seed within your leadership style and organizational culture:

• Implement Reflective Practices Encourage team members to reflect on their achievements through journaling or group discussions. Reflecting on what went well and what could be improved solidifies lessons learned and prepares the team for future challenges.
• Create Memory Walls Set up a wall where team members can post pictures, notes, and mementos from projects. This visual representation of achievements can serve as a daily reminder of what the team has accomplished together.
• Encourage Storytelling Create opportunities for team members to share stories about their contributions to projects. Storytelling can be a powerful way to highlight individual and team achievements and to inspire others.

As we continue to explore the Macieverse through these Leadership Seeds, let’s remember the importance of celebrating our harvests. Recognizing and appreciating the results of our hard work boosts team spirit and performance and sets the stage for future success.

💬 I’d love to hear about the ways you celebrate the harvest! What strategies have you found effective in cultivating a culture of appreciation and preparation for your next project?

Let’s grow together by celebrating the value of the harvest! ✨🥕🫐💚

Peter Contardo