Jeff McManus's Blog

“It’s about learning… to win, you have to learn. And learning takes
precedence over winning.”
— Kobe Bryant

Last month, I shared a Kobe Bryant interview video with my Grounds and
Landscape team. The 11-minute clip was packed with practical lessons for
leaders who want their teams to perform at the highest level.

Kobe was curious — could he ever be as great as Magic, Jordan, or Bird?
Learning became his secret weapon. He studied basketball in every detail
— how to move quicker, play faster, and e...

Let’s get back to basics. Every so often, we all need a little brush-up to remind
ourselves how to do what we do best. Like reading, these are the fundamentals — the
things the daily grind can wear down.

First things first. As Simon Sinek puts it, “Leaders aren’t responsible for results; they’re
responsible for the people who are responsible for the results.”

At the core, people need three things to thrive: purpose, connection, and progress.
Pretty simple, right? But easy to lose sight of. As...

Before a meal hits your table in a top-notch restaurant, the chef isn’t just looking at how
it tastes — they’re checking for consistency. How does it look? How does it feel? Is it the
same as the last plate they served?

In the green industry, one of my team members calls it the “credit card slot” — that
perfect, clean line of edging along the turf and sidewalk. It gives the turf that pop of
tightness and being manicured. Using a edger, not line trimmer, to create a tight crisp
line.

There’s no ...

Michael Jordan’s talent was so strong that even his own teammates
sometimes froze—passing him the ball when it wasn’t the best move. Not
because he demanded it, but because they didn’t want to look bad next to
him. That’s the intimidation factor: when someone’s skill or presence makes
others hesitate, even unintentionally.

In the workplace, the same thing happens. A new leader, expert, or strong
personality walks in and suddenly people step back. Ideas slow down,
contributions shrink, and teams und...

In 1976, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne founded Apple. Almost ten

years later, just after the launch of the first Mac computer, Jobs, who had been the face

and voice of the company, was forced out. In true Jobs fashion, he connected with, not

a computer firm as you might expect, but a movie studio called PIXAR. He found

himself suddenly having to adapt to a totally different environment, way of

communicating, and creating.

As you might guess, Steve Jobs went throug...

Over the past eight months of moving into a new job, state, and community, I’ve been
reminded of just how difficult—and rewarding—change can be. Harvard Business
Review notes that transition in today’s workplace is tougher than ever. Promotions, role
changes, or entirely new ventures demand hyper-collaboration and constant speed,
leaving even the best-prepared professionals struggling to find their footing.

Fortunately, I spend much of my time around plants—planting, transplanting, pruning.
Their ...

Humor is one of those things that’s tough to explain without ruining it. As E.B. White

wisely put it, “Humor can be dissected, as a frog can, but the thing dies in the process.”

So, let’s skip the science and talk about the real value of bringing humor to work.

A recent survey found that 84% of executives believe those with a good sense of humor

do better work. While humor won’t erase challenges, sharing a laugh makes the

workday feel a whole lot easier. Laughter helps relieve ten...

“Strong relationships are built on difficult conversations.” – Simon Sinek

Last week, we explored the real costs of workplace conflict—financial, collaborative, and

personal. While both leaders and employees share the responsibility to address conflict, it’s the

leader’s role to set the tone and model conflict resolution effectively.

The good news? With a few key strategies, leaders can handle conflict productively and use it

as a chance to grow.

What NOT to do:

Many leaders...

Conflict among and with those you lead is inevitable. According to the Conflict Resolution Center, leaders spend at least 30-40% of their day trying to resolve conflict. Here are some examples:

Last week, I offered an online seminar on conflict management in the workplace – specifically around the difficult conversations that start/stop the conflict. Titled, Stop Dodging, Start Dialoguing: Mastering Difficult Workplace Conversations, the goal of the online seminar was to encourage constructiv...

Last week, we explored the value of the Growth Mindset. Now, let’s talk about how to build

momentum—and keep it going.

Gill Penchina, a business leader and investor, once said: “Momentum begets momentum, and

the best way to start is to start.”

In physics, momentum is power in motion. Think of a bowling ball versus a softball. Same

speed, different force. The bowling ball carries more weight—more momentum—because of its

mass.

The same principle applies to leadership and perso...