Blueberries or Tomatoes? The Juicy Truth About Leading People Well

As a keynote speaker and author dedicated to helping leaders make the best choices with their time, I’ve found that some of my greatest leadership insights come from the backyard. Gardening has taught me so much—not just about cultivating fruit, but about cultivating people.

One of the clearest lessons? Leadership is a lot like growing tomatoes and blueberries.

The Tale of Two Plants: Blueberries vs. Tomatoes

In my garden, I grow both tomatoes and blueberries. They’re delicious in their own way, but how they grow—and what they require from me—is remarkably different.

• Blueberries are low-maintenance. Once planted in the right spot and watered early on, they mostly take care of themselves. You harvest the fruit each year and prune the plant after the season ends.

• Tomatoes, on the other hand, are higher-maintenance. You often start with seeds or seedlings indoors. Then you move them outside and the real work begins: watering, fertilizing, watching for pests, and most importantly—providing support. Without staking or caging, tomato plants can’t hold the weight of their own fruit.

Both plants yield valuable results—but they need very different types of care.

People Grow Like Plants: Customizing Leadership

It’s the same with your team.

• Some team members are like blueberries—they thrive with independence and minimal oversight.

• Others are like tomatoes—they need more guidance, encouragement, structure, and regular check-ins to grow at their best.

Your job as a leader is to recognize those needs and respond accordingly.

Three Leadership Lessons From the Garden

1. Don’t Expect Everyone To Grow the Same Way

Tomatoes aren’t blueberries—and neither are your team members.
Ask yourself:

Am I expecting everyone to develop at the same rate or in the same way?

Instead, meet each person where they are and focus on their next step in growth—not someone else’s.

2. Prepare The Environment Before Planting

Growth doesn’t happen in a vacuum. For example:

• Blueberries need a soil pH of 4.5 to 5.

• Tomatoes thrive in soil closer to 6 to 6.5.

Plant a tomato in blueberry soil, and it struggles. Similarly, if your team’s environment doesn’t match their needs, they won’t grow.

Ask yourself:

Does this person need more structure, clearer expectations, or more frequent feedback?

Or do they grow best with space and autonomy?

3. Know When To Step In—And When To Step Back

A thriving leader—like a good gardener—knows when to intervene and when to stay hands-off.

Sometimes, your team member needs direct guidance or help navigating a tough situation. Other times, the best thing you can do is step back, let them wrestle with the challenge, and debrief afterwards.

Leadership Is Cultivation

Whether you’re growing tomatoes, blueberries, or a diverse group of people, your goal is the same: growth.

When you take time to understand what helps each team member thrive, you cultivate more than just productivity—you create a stronger, healthier team culture. And that leads to a richer harvest for everyone.

Action Steps To Take:

• Reflect: Who on your team needs more support right now? Who flourishes with freedom?

• Adjust: Take one step to prepare the “soil” for someone’s success—whether that’s a one-on-one meeting, additional clarity, or removing a barrier.

• Observe: In the week ahead, ask yourself: Do I need to step in—or step back? And don’t forget to debrief and celebrate the learning.

If you’re looking for more ways to GROW your team, check out my leadership book, Always Growing because: