From Gatekeeper to Gardener: Shifting our leadership approach
We live in a world is constantly changing, and so the role of a leader has to evolve. Too often, leadership is viewed through the lens of control, where leaders act as gatekeepers, deciding what gets through and what doesn’t. They protect the status quo, maintaining rigid structures and outdated practices because it’s what they know best. Obviously not all leaders do this but it’s a surprisingly common approach that might not even be a conscious thought for them.
What about a nice metaphor to help us start having different types of conversations with ourselves that encourage a more open mindset? What if we were to start thinking like a gardener, cultivating an environment where people can grow, where ideas can bloom, and where innovation thrives?
This shift from gatekeeper to gardener isn’t just a nice metaphor. It’s a radical call to rethink how we lead in a world that requires more adaptive thinking and more connection to each other and our natural systems.
The Gatekeeper mindset
Leaders who operate as gatekeepers are primarily concerned with maintaining control. Their goal is to preserve what’s already been built, to keep the machine running smoothly without too many disruptions. While this may sound like good management, it’s the very mindset that stifles creativity, discourages innovation, and prevents teams from unlocking their full potential.
Gatekeepers often fear losing their grip on the process. They feel responsible for protecting the organisation’s established ways of doing things, whether that’s a product, service, or culture. By doing so, they become risk-averse, only allowing in ideas that fit within the narrow scope of ‘acceptable’ and ‘proven.’ This approach might keep their team from not rocking about too much and maintaining some stability, but it certainly doesn’t allow for growth and for new opportunities to arise.
The Gardener approach
On the flip side, the gardener leader views their role as cultivating an environment where growth can occur. Gardeners aren’t afraid of change - they encourage it. They know that growth requires a balance of structure and freedom, of nurturing and challenging.
The gardener leader doesn’t cling to old methods for the sake of comfort. Instead, they prepare their team for new seasons, new weather patterns, and unexpected storms. They recognise that for their people to thrive, they need to be planted in fertile ground, given room to stretch their roots, and pruned when necessary to focus energy where it’s needed most.
This leadership style requires trust. Trust that your team has the ability to adapt. Trust that not every idea will be perfect, but that with enough care and attention, some will bloom into something pretty fucking good.
Cultivating an environment of growth
Becoming a gardener leader means fostering an environment that welcomes ideas, challenges assumptions, and rewards learning over perfection. Here’s how you can start that shift:
Loosen the grip: Let go of the need to control every outcome. The more you hold on, the less space your team has to experiment, fail, and ultimately, grow. Your role is to set the conditions for success, not dictate every move. Take some time to reflect on your own behaviour, noticing moments of control and consciously start letting go.
Encourage curiosity: Ask questions that disrupt the norm. Push your team to explore new angles and perspectives, even if it means challenging your own views. As a gardener, your job is to till the soil of curiosity so new growth can take root.
Remove obstacles: Just like a gardener clears weeds that threaten healthy growth, you need to remove the obstacles that prevent your team from flourishing. Whether it’s outdated processes, bureaucratic red tape, or a fear-driven culture, identify and eliminate the barriers holding your team back.
Invest in development: Growth doesn’t happen by accident. It requires intention, patience, and continuous effort. Invest in the development of your people - not just in terms of skills, but in fostering a mindset that embraces change and challenges the status quo.
Prune wisely: Part of being a gardener is knowing when to prune. Sometimes, old practices or ideas need to be cut back to make room for new growth. This doesn’t mean disregarding tradition altogether, but rather being selective about what to keep and what to let go of.
Embracing change
The garden metaphor also reminds us that growth is often unpredictable. There will be seasons where everything seems to flourish, and times when progress feels slow or uncertain. But a gardener leader knows that both are part of the natural cycle, and that resilience comes from being adaptable and open to change.
Being a gardener means you’re in the business of growth, not maintenance. It means you’re always preparing for what’s next, not just protecting what already is. In the future of work, that’s the kind of leadership we need - leaders who plant seeds for the future instead of just guarding the gates of the past.
Time to reflect
Are you leading as a gatekeeper, holding onto control, and maintaining the status quo? Or are you willing to get your hands dirty, make space for new ideas, and cultivate the next generation of growth?
Ask yourself:
What’s one thing you’ve been gatekeeping in your leadership role that needs to be let go?
How can you start gardening instead - nurturing growth and welcoming change, even when it’s uncomfortable?
True leadership doesn’t come from standing in front of the gates. It comes from nurturing a garden where innovation and courage can flourish. Now, it’s time to decide—are you ready to be a gardener?
Ready to lead with guts?
If you’re ready to break away from the status quo and lead with guts, let’s talk. I’m here to help you become the leader you’re meant to be.
Flick me an email at tamara.buckland@gmail.com or chuck some time in my calendar.