What key characteristics do you look for when trying to identify future company leaders?
Landscape Professionals
Paul Fraynd
Sun Valley Landscaping
Omaha, Neb.
“I look for people with a growth mindset and personal agency — those who take ownership of outcomes and believe they can make a difference and drive improvements in the world.”
Mike Giese
Perfecturf Lawncare
Mt. Pleasant, Wisc.
“The key characteristics we look for are strong communication/interpersonal skills and a growth mindset with a willingness to learn
and adapt.”
Bryan Stolz
Winterberry Landscape and Garden Center
Southington, Conn.
“We always look at the skills required for the next job, not the current one. Ambition and autonomy may not be necessary to be a great account manager, but they sure are essential in a sales manager. Nothing is worse than promoting a star performer only for them to fail at the next level.”
Justin White
K&D Landscaping
Watsonville, Calif.
“(We’re looking for) someone who is hungry. A hunger for change, for development and for success is a key characteristic in great future leaders. The other aspect is someone who shows up with consistency; leaders who are consistent in the long run can make a massive impact on the organization.”
Industry Consultants
Marty Grunder
The Grow Group
Dayton, Ohio
“On our current team, we look for people who anticipate and take initiative. For prospective candidates, my favorite question is, ‘Tell me about the biggest mistake you’ve made in your career and what you learned from it and how you overcame it?’ Humility is critical to one’s success.”
Jeffrey Scott
Jeffrey Scott Consulting
New Orleans, La.
“The two values all leaders need are teamwork — do they have the team’s goals in mind before their own? — and a growth mindset — are they hungry to learn and able to admit and learn from mistakes without blaming others?”
