Derrick Mueller: Blog

The Journey of Leadership

 In a time where the work place has changed so much it is now more than ever important to realize the resources and potential we have in those we work with. If we truly want to be successful, productive and effective as a business or organization then we need to see our people more then a means to an end but as a resource. For I believe we are only as good as our people, and excellence is achieved through investment, and investment in this case is people. I know I am a leader today because of the many mentors and coaches who took time and believed in me. They influenced my life and gave input and guidance to my leadership journey.

 In my book “The Amaryllis Way”, I share a parable about a failing manager who learns the hard lessons of leadership from a mentor and coach through the practice of gardening and turns his philosophy of working with others around in the process. The book has been a tool to bring sparkle, hope, encouragement and new direction for those who want to revolutionize your workplace. Using horticultural metaphors, growing people the Amaryllis Way is compared to growing plants. Growing leaders does not begin by taking a course, or taking a bunch of principles and forcing them on people. I believe true leadership begins in serving and acknowledging the talents and gifts of others. If you really want to make a difference in your workplace start by drawing a circle around yourselves and changing everything in that circle first.

The Amaryllis Way

Borrowing from various leadership theories, I have developed a philosophy and attitude of leadership, which is transferable to all aspects of our life called “The Amaryllis Way”. To truly appreciate the concept you must understand some of its rich embedded meanings. Originally from the Greek meaning to sparkle it has developed several nuances over 2,OOO years and has been used by the classical writers, poets and botanists alike.  

First, Amaryllis has a caring and managing theme as part of its core. The Latin word is the name given to a female shepherdess. A shepherd guards, nurtures, manages and tends the sheep. Second, the amaryllis can be a flowering plant that comes from a bulb–not just a little bulb, but one the size of a baseball. A bulb is a complete plant just waiting to be nurtured; it represents potential to be nurtured. The flower is beautiful and captivating just like any one who reaches their potential in an organization. Using the gardening motif, we as leaders can be likened to a gardener who takes the bulb and nurtures it to blossom. Finally, ‘amaryllis’ has its root in the French word which means love. It can be likened to the attitude we engage others. As a leader we want to approach all situations in an attitude of love and care.  To add life or sparkle to our work context we must use the essence of all aspects and meanings of Amaryllis and intentionally shepherd potential in love.