Like with garden boxes, I’ve seen mint destroy too many organizations and it’s all too easy to let it happen. Influence is a key ingredient – but given too much influence a leader may find that a variety voices may be choked out.
Mint can be deceiving. It looks gorgeous in its full minty green leafiness – Think about it. You just pick one of those leaves – crush it beneath your nose and inhale the burst of minty freshness. This never gives a pause because the experience and fragrance is wonderful. It’s mint. Fresh mint is the key to mojitos and watermelon salad, iced tea and other yummy summer dishes that make summer, well, summer. It’s a simple garnish that makes many gardeners feel like they have an awesome green thumb.
There’s just one problem. Mint acts like a weed. Ignoring the problem can lead to a take-over of your garden or your organizational culture.
Look around. What’s missing in your team conversations? Whose voice| opinion | feedback is missing in these conversations? Mint grows right over all the other herbs. You begin to ask: where did the oregano go? The dill? Oh, chives managed to hold their own! Thank goodness. But where’s that volunteer? Where’s the small group of enthusiastic team members willing to work on each committee? I only see mint. I remember, in my early gardening experience, that a few friendly gardeners advised me that mint needed to be contained – They mentioned, “Oh yeah, that stuff takes over!” Why didn’t I listen?
How did this happen?
Admittedly, it’s difficult to be fully attentive to actively monitor and create purposeful growth. We get busy and before we realize it – our mint is out of hand.
Do you have a similar experience in your team, your company or your organization? That team member seemed like a great addition. They fit right in and were so self-sufficient. They hardly needed any guidance or support. To a busy leader, they were very enthusiastic and useful. And we see them everywhere. We feel their influence in everything. But what about the other members of the team? Have you heard from them since the mint appeared? Have the other team members disappeared? Have they been driven off?
Intentional influence is not the scene stealer.
We each have our role to play and with that role comes a message and a voice. Just as in theatre we need all the characters in the scene. The individual variations are essential to complete the story. Mint is a scene stealer in the garden as well as the individuals acting like it in your organizations. Just as in theater, the cast needs to be balanced even if the different roles are of different sizes. The director’s job is to be sure the message is heard from all the players. That strong and clear voice keeps the mint contained to the mint’s role – not scene stealing and taking over where not needed nor intended. For instance, if you are only hearing from one cast member, the play takes a different turn. You need the fullness and presence of all the characters to have the experience that the playwright intended. Leaders need strong boundaries and communication with their team to keep the proper balance and forward motion.
Reminder: Mint is a garnish. Not a staple.
Mint will take over like it’s essential. Other members of the team will begin to move over and let the newbie take charge. We must remember that other team members have skills and talents as well. As leaders, we need to mentor or coach them, and this takes extra time. Let’s admit it, it’s sometimes easier to allow one person to run away with the show than to encourage and lead the entire team.
Mint can also show up in an organization through seniority – your longtimers. I’ve heard individuals say, “I’ve been at this company for 10 years, worked with all the same folks, we’re comfortable here, we’re recognized as leaders, we have seniority, our ideas aren’t challenged, we have the loudest voices in the room, we are listened to and respected. It feels good to be validated, it feels good to be comfortable, why would we change anything in our organization?” Mint!
Mint has fans!
There are those that find it easier to champion the person(s) or behavior than to realize they have a problem. And what about the situations where the same employees volunteer for special interest committees. Or better yet, they get assigned because everyone else is too busy? These appointments are often met with a “Thank goodness. One less thing on my plate.” Accolades and gratitude are shared. Be warned – mint can take over – and nothing else will thrive.
Mint takes no effort as it grows excellently on its own. It takes care of itself with little attention needed to flourish. Does an employee show up as super helpful – take on jobs\task when no one else is offering? Is something better than nothing? A filled space is better than an empty space? Time is of the essence? Then we wonder how the situation developed or where did the problem begin.
We’re the ones that planted the mint, right? We’re the ones that were looking for solutions to roles or jobs or things that weren’t getting done. We’re the ones that didn’t address the attitudes when they first appeared.
Honestly, the metrics on the mint look good: the garden appears to be thriving. It does, however, create a long-term problem. Leaders need to realize they’re losing out on hearing diverse voices and missing important contributions from other team members.
So, take a good hard look.
Recently, a leader was sharing that he had a committee of employees that self-selected for a very important company initiative. When it came time to follow through – actually, do the work – the committee refused. They had dismissed or drowned out the original intent for their team. They, as mint had simply taken over to create their own agenda, the garden. The leader was left with the only choice of action and asked the members to leave the committee if they couldn’t follow through on the original mission. All those months were gone but he did take charge, weed out the mint, and get a new team back on track. That’s the hard work once you notice what is happening.
Notice whose voice is being shared in every meeting? On every committee? Start noticing that the mint is actually popping up everywhere. It’s not contained. Look for signs of infiltration. Look beneath the surface for the intricate root system it has created. There’s little room for anything else to grow – anyone else to contribute.
Warning: mint is destructive unless very intentionally contained. Lovely mint soon becomes toxic weed.
You need to be an observant and skilled gardener for mint to play its role in the garden. And weeding it isn’t so simple. Once it infiltrates, it’s extremely difficult to get rid of it without major digging.
What to do.
To address the issue of mint in an organization or team, leaders need to lead. We have to have conversations with the individuals and with the other members of our team. We need to find out where they want to contribute – where they need to contribute. If you’re conflict avoidant, this may scare you. You figure the team can just live with the teammate that is taking over. You’ll outlive them on the team, right? I’ve heard that over and over. We must tend the garden we planted. Mint, itself isn’t bad, yet it must be managed.
I have numerous examples of organizations and teams where mint was introduced and ended up destroying the team or causing damage to the organization. It’s taking years to heal and rebuild these teams and organizations.
Not only notice whose voice and presence is everywhere – notice, who is missing? Who took a backseat on the team?
Speak up about it. Strong communication is needed. It’s challenging and messy work to dig up what appears to be thriving. You must also remember that clipping back does nothing with mint. Subtle attempts at curbing the impact do nothing in the long run if the roots have gone deep and created a whole network. Leaders – your teams need you to lead. Take the time and have clear communication. Encourage others to offer their talents – create systems where teams don’t feel overwhelmed to take on one more thing.
Let’s enjoy a full and vibrant garden. Dig in and save what you believe in. Mint is only a garnish – be sure it‘s used as such.
Hilary Blair is a leadership keynote speaker based out of Denver, CO, and is the co-founder of ARTiculate: Real & Clear. She is also a highly regarded, actor, improviser, facilitator, voice-over artist, and voice expert coach. Contact us today to learn more.
