I bet you didn't think you needed juggling skills when you were promoted to a management position.

Perhaps you needed to remind a friend that you were waiting for their overdue report and when you did they became huffy and cool towards you. You could almost hear her saying "she used to be my friend, now she"s up herself.'

So you retreat into your shell/office and miserably stare at the computer screen. You worked hard for your promotion, you worked hard at your friendship too, where is it written that you can't have both?

You can have them both but you need to mentally change gear often. Think of giving orders as first gear and friendship as fifth gear, you can't drive a car in both at the same time. Giving orders and friendship are diametrically opposed so you have to actively keep them apart from each other, just like juggling.

Put yourself in your friend's position (for good measure let us assume she is a little envious of your promotion) and she receives the following email from you:

Jane, I need your report ASAP please Penny

How would that feel? Now try this one:

Jane, Me wearing my business hat - I need your report ASAP please. B, hat off and friendship hat on: How about a drink after work, usual place, 6pm? Penny

See the difference?

Surely, you say, your friends are not that sensitive? Believe me they are and so are you. It is only a conscious effort the first few times then it becomes a habit. Your friends will cotton on too and use it back to you. They will be grateful you have shown them the path through the minefield.

This separation, juggling skill is called for with a vengeance when change stalks the office. Perhaps your department's immediate superior changes, its part of the human condition that we resist change, are scared of it and what it may bring. There might be mumbles and grumbles within the department. Hold your fire and get your staff to hold theirs. Don't judge the new boss without giving him/her a fair chance.

Remember, those involved in office politics like to gather followers so you juggle some more. You don't want to be branded a Mr. Jones person when Mr. Jones is ousted and Ms Brown takes over. Far better to be known as your own person, good at your job, whoever's at the top.

Help - there is conflict in your department. That's great! Am I mad? No, if conflict is handled positively it's a great team-building tool. Again you need to employ separation (juggling) skills.

1. Identify the conflict. How have you contributed to it? How has he/she or they? What is the difference between those in conflict and their behaviour? In other words don't identify people only by their negative behaviour in a conflict.
2. Focus on individual and shared needs and goals.
3. Separate the issues.
4. Start with the easiest to resolve. That way you build up agreements and therefore a will to solve the other more difficult sticking points. It also establishes a "we" rather than a "you versus me" climate that builds trust.
5. When the conflict has been resolved get the parties to agree on steps or ways to improve the relationship to prevent or to more easily and quickly deal with future conflict.

Circus acrobats have a well-honed sense of balance and timing. Imagine walking a tightrope without a sense of balance or swinging through the air on a flying trapeze, in order to catch your partner before he/she plunges to their death, if you don't have an acute sense of split second timing.

Managers Need Balance And Timing Just As Keenly

Take balance, it's a bad manager who leads a lop-sided life, who spends fifteen to sixteen hours a day at work. That doesn't leave much per day to eat, sleep, love, exercise, have fun and stimulate the other lobes of the brain with books and movies. Become obsessed with your work and you bring nothing to your role as a manager except time and diligence. Do that and you also endanger your personal relationships which leads to unhappiness and an unhappy manager cannot be a good manager.

Your job is finite. No matter how exciting and interesting you find it when you begin in three or four years time you will be looking for new challenges. I hope you don't regard your relationships as "disposable" as your work?!

Its true, when the job is brand new to you and you are just getting to grips with it you may lean towards it a little more than is balanced but after a (short) while you do need to straighten up again.

Keep the times you take work home to a minimum, keep weekends free of work as much as possible. This is not an idea you merely pay lip service to. It is not an unattainable ideal; it is something you have to consciously monitor.

Runners in training do not work simply on their leg muscles. They do cardio-vascular exercises to strengthen their heart, they watch their diet, they motivate themselves with their brains and so on. In short, they concern themselves with their whole body. You need to concern yourself with your whole life.

Timing is critical too. If the CEO has five minutes before an important meeting that is not the time to pitch a proposal you are ardent about, it might be the time to ask for a day off though! When a member of your staff needs to talk to you and you don't have the time then to REALLY listen effectively say so but agree a different time with the staff member as soon as possible and stick to it. Never let him/her feel brushed aside.

When you are listening, listen, never sort through your mail at the same time or shuffle papers or fiddle with the computer mouse and above all, never ever finish their sentences for them. Also make sure the conversation is over before you employ “dismissing” body language.

Sure you are ambitious, but don't be greedy, pace yourself. Don't ask for more responsibility or promotion until you have delivered and continued to deliver on what you have at present. Like an acrobat, you may not yet be ready for the highest swing and you shouldn't risk a fall from a dizzying height until you are comfortable with the lower swing.

Stilt walking is an art that needs to be learned. Stilt walkers walk like everyone else, one foot in front of the other, but they are head and shoulders above everyone else, you can't help but notice them. If you are ambitious you MUST be a stilt walker. You are a stilt walking manager when:

1. You attract attention by your enthusiasm.
2. You look for problems to solve or help to solve.
3. You prepare thoroughly for meetings/presentations.
4. You are not shy or put on a superb performance of not being shy.
5. You treat your workers (as well as your boss) with respect.
6. You increase your skill base through reading and training.
7. Your communication skills are of a high standard.
8. You admit mistakes and have a plan to correct them.
9. You ask for what you want directly and express your own feelings clearly.
10. You have no trouble setting your own goals and motivating yourself and others.

Believe it or not, stilt walking leads to lion taming.

Good lion tamers know their lions, care about their welfare, command and receive respect from their lions and know their lions look to them for food and shelter. They don't expect their lions to perform tricks without adequate training.

Lion tamers know they are nothing without their lions. They also know that if they do not perform as a good lion tamer should they put themselves in danger of being eaten!

As a manager you are a lion tamer, your staff are the lions.

Get to know them, take an interest in their lives. If a superior stopped you in the corridor to enquire whether your mother (who had been ill) was now feeling better, you know you'd appreciate the interest. Pubelius Syrus, a poet in roman times said "we are interested in others when they are interested in us."

In a major way you have an advantage over circus lion tamers. Just imagine how easy it would be to train lions if you could not only tell them what you wanted them to do but why. “ I'd like you, Mr. Lion, to jump through this hoop because your agility is sure to be a crowd pleaser."

If your staff know where you are leading them and why, they take ownership of their contribution, so always keep them informed. A weekly meeting is one way, a meeting where they are not merely told what to do but are expected to contribute suggestions or worries, to feel a part of the drive forward, to feel comfortable enough with you to be able to disagree or point out pitfalls you may not have thought of.

Frank group discussions lead to:

1. Ideas being generated.
2. Objectives clarified.
3. Commitment fostered.
4. Understanding of processes and therefore.
5. Teamwork strengthened.

Give feedback - don't expect your staff to work in a vacuum, and I don't mean annual performance reviews.

If a report from a staff member arrives on your desk and its well written, if you overhear a member of your staff dealing excellently with a complaint from a member of the public, get up, move out of your office and go and tell them then and there - that is feedback.

Be generous with praise and cautious with criticism. Sure, there will be times when criticism is in order but never bawl anybody out in an open office. Remember when you were a kid and a parent told you off in front of your peers - how did that feel? In fact its better never to do it in anger, even in privacy, wait, if you can, till you have cooled down.

Also listen, perhaps he/she goofed because they didn't have a piece of equipment/knowledge vital to the success of the job. Ask “what do you think would make you better able to do X?” You might be surprised by what you hear. If they need training do your utmost to get it for them.

You Need Lion Taming Skills With Your Peers Too

Think about this - the people who really make the business world go round are the co-operators, not the competitors.

If you are competing constantly against peers in your organization you are focused only on your climb up the ladder - you are interested only in growing yourself. If you are co-operating, focusing on consensus you are growing your organization. A bonus is that inevitably, if you grow your organization you grow your own career more effectively.

Now, I don't mean being a “yes” person of course but:

1. Being prepared to co-operate.
2. Really listening.
3. Finding common ground.
4. Build up agreement.
5. Work together to solve a problem.
6. And if necessary, agree to disagree.

Warning: Offer only what you are willing to give. Never allow yourself to feel used.

So finally, how do you tame the ring master, your superior?

Its all here, you become a juggler, acrobat, stilt walker and lion tamer. Its that simple and the thread running through all of these roles is, of course, empathy.

There are federal regulations governing the type of business that you have. You must have a federal employer identification number if your business is a sole proprietorship and has at least one employee, or if you have a partnership or a corporation. You can get the proper application and other forms from the IRS. You will also need a business license from the state or county. Other licenses may be necessary, depending on where you are located.

Another thing to consider is insurance. You must have enough insurance to protect your property and equipment. What if someone steals your tractor? Or damages your greenhouse? And don't forget business liability and casualty insurance. You don't want to think about a customer getting hurt in your nursery, but it could happen. Be prepared, be covered, and be safe.

Maybe you own a farm already, and you want to open a nursery as a side business to increase your income. Maybe this will be your sole business. In either case, it is advisable to start small. “Small” may be five acres of container plants or fifteen acres of field production. It usually takes three to five years for any new business to begin to show a profit, but it may take a beginning nursery a little longer depending upon the state of the economy. You may want to have a full-time job somewhere else, until your nursery begins to turn a profit.

Marketing

When starting a nursery, it is important to know what crops to grow and how to market them. Choosing the right crops will depend largely upon the part of the country in which you live. It will also help to know what other crops in your area have been grown and sold successfully. Stay informed of legislative action that might influence your business. Check out the 10 year development plans of your county planning and zoning boards. Where are the new subdivisions going, and when will they be built? Also, check out your competition!

Marketing is all about knowing what to sell, how much, and to whom. You should decide who your customers are and what they want. Keep up with current trends and know which plants will bring the most profit. Where a large established nursery might carry a large variety of plants, you may want to develop a selling niche. Perhaps you want to sell just those plants that are native to your area, or maybe you want to sell rare plants, or just one or two types of plants. Maybe you want to specialize in roses or lilies or trees.

Once you are open for business, you must constantly monitor your sales. You must advertise and promote your business continually. You must ensure the reliable and consistent availability of quality plants that your customers want. You want to build your nursery's reputation as a place to purchase quality, and offer service with a personal touch. Guarantee your plants. That will keep your customers coming back.

Your Business Type

1. Small grower/retail nurseries: You probably sell directly to the homeowner. Most of your crops are grown in containers, and your sales are local. You sell mostly seeds, small plants, shrubs, and a few balled and burlapped trees.
2. Wholesaler: You grow plants to sell to other nurseries, landscapers, retail outlets, and mass merchandisers that sell large volumes of a few varieties of plants that sell quickly. Their sales are usually seasonal. They want fast shipment and low prices. They often give plants poor treatment once they receive them.
3. Landscapers: You buy large, high-quality plants, trees, and shrubs. You buy most of your plants in the spring even though your work goes on all year. You offer landscape services at retail prices for the homeowner up to the large business park.
4. Garden centers: You purchase your plants from wholesalers. Your business ranges between the mass merchandiser and the landscaper. You may sell everything from packets of seeds, container plants, balled and burlapped shrubs and trees, to garden hoses and flower pots.
5. Other retail outlets: These include mail order, websites, and farmers markets. Mail order nurseries and websites sell nationally, while farmers markets are usually local.

Production: Container Grown

There are two types of production: field grown and container grown. Container-grown crops are seedlings and cuttings for both forestry and landscape businesses. Container-grown trees have a greater chance of survival after transplanting, and they need less time to adapt than field-grown trees. If you have a small nursery, container production is ideal for you. It takes up less space, and it enables you to extend the growing season. Container plants can be moved inside when the weather is bad. Homeowners usually prefer container plants because they are easier to handle. They are easier to transport and to transplant. Crops grown in containers sell much better than crops grown in the field.

Other advantages to the nursery are:

1. High plant densities: You can put a large number of containers in a small space.
2. Use of poor land: You can grow container crops on land that is unsuited for field production.
3. Planting times: Container crops can be planted regardless of the weather or the season.
4. Elimination of some operations: You don't have to worry about root pruning.
5. Lower costs: Because of the lightweight potting media, transportation costs are lower.
6. Greater survival: Because there is less root loss, the plant has a better chance of survival.

There are also several important disadvantages. Container plants need constant and frequent watering, and nutrients are lost very quickly. Plants can easily become root-bound and have to be reported. Containers cost money, and so does the labor required to plant the containers.

If you plan to sell container plants, keep in mind the costs involved, not only the costs of the containers, but that of the growing media as well. You must also be careful to control the moisture content and temperature of the growing media to encourage root growth. Mycorrhiza is helpful soil fungi that can be purchased commercially. It aids plants in absorbing water and nutrients.

The design of your containers is also important. Copper-lined, white, and light-colored containers are better for your plants than the old round black-plastic pots. Also, square and stair-step pots help to prevent bound roots. The shape allows roots to spread out more than the old round pots. Root growth is a very important aspect of growing container plants.

Research has shown that the use of copper in the containers is an excellent way to control root growth. Copper kills root tips and forces the roots to grow within the ball instead of around it. These plants tend to be taller, have higher survival rates, and require fewer applications of nitrogen.

Another method of controlling root growth is to expose the root tips to air. Air works in very much the same way as copper. It kills the root tips and forces the roots to branch out rather than grow around the ball. Tree seedlings are often grown this way in bottomless milk cartons. Plants can also be grown in bottomless tubes made out of plastic or Styrofoam. Tubes work well for the small nursery because you can grow large quantities of plants, such as perennials and tree seedlings, in a very small space.

In addition, we have a method called the pot-in-pot system. This system was developed to help solve some of the problems you may have with containers, such as blow over and moisture loss. It is disheartening to have to set up your trees and shrubs every time the wind blows. If they are damaged, then your profit is cut. With this system, you bury a pot in the ground and set a container plant inside it. This may be expensive initially, but these holder pots may last 15 years or more.

Recycling Plastic

Most nurseries use a lot of plastic-pots, flats, hanging baskets, greenhouse film, and even plastic mulch. You can reuse some of this, but mostly you need to find a place to get rid of it. There are recycling plants for plastic. To locate one near you, go to The American Plastics Council website (U.S.,Canada). Recyclers often have restrictions. They may require that sheet plastic be clean. It should be washed and stored properly indoors. They may also want to know the density of your pots. Most flats, trays, and pots are #6 polystyrene or #2 high density polyethylenes. This can be very important to some recyclers.

Weed Control

Weeds compete for water and nutrients, and they can also hinder sales. How attractive is a container plant with a pot full of weeds! To control the weeds, you need to treat the pot and the area under and around the pot. When treating weeds, ask yourself these questions: Are the weeds annuals or perennials? Are they easy to pull? Are they growing in one small group of containers, or are they widespread? Are the weeds monocots (grass) or dicots (broadleaf)? What time of year is most effective for controlling weeds? Knowing the answer to these questions should make your work a lot easier.

Sanitation is the cheapest and most effective method of weed control. Keep the areas around your containers clean and free of weeds. Try placing your containers on landscape cloth. The most modern types are quite durable and do a good job of controlling weeds. If your nursery is very small, you may hand weed your crop.

The most common method of weed control in container nurseries is the use of herbicides. Weeds love the almost perfect growing conditions in containers-the soft media, the just-the-right amount of moisture and nutrients, and the protection from bad weather. Herbicides are quick and easy to apply, and they usually work very well. Probably the best way to get rid of weeds, however, is a combination of hand weeding and herbicides.

There are other effective methods of weed control. One is the use of fabric weed barrier discs which are pre-slit and fit around the plant. They prevent weeds from growing while still allowing water and air to reach the plant. A new organic weed control is corn gluten meal. This is applied in early spring to the top ¼ inch of soil. It contains 10% nitrogen and acts as a slow release fertilizer. Corn gluten meal is classified as a natural herbicide, and it must be applied once every year. Another herbicide, called Weed Eraser, is made from pelargonic acid found in plants and animals. It lowers the pH of the plant that is sprayed and kills it within two hours. Other products-Nature's Glory, Burnout, and Bioganic-contain vinegar, lemon juice, eugengol, thyme oil, orange oil, and other natural ingredients. All of these products work in varying degrees on broadleaf and grassy weeds.

Fertilization

Advances in growing media and fertilizer combinations have helped container nurseries to be successful. Because of new Federal rules, many nursery growers are looking to organic fertilizers. The goal is to have zero runoff. The most common problems with runoff are excessive nitrates and phosphorus. Not only are these elements harmful to the environment, they are needed in the containers for plant growth.

Organic fertilizers that provide nitrogen are alfalfa meal, blood meal, cottonseed meal, feather meal, hoof and horn meal, soybean meal, and animal manures. Phosphorus may be obtained from oak leaves, bone meal, shrimp wastes, residues from sugar, and various forms of rock phosphate. To obtain potassium, use greensand, granite meal, soybean meal, ash from orange and potato skins, unleached wood ashes, K-Mag, and tobacco.

To maintain adequate levels of nutrients in the container medium is difficult because of limited container space and frequent watering. You might have better success if you combined two fertilizing systems-the slow release and liquid. Nitrogen is the main nutrient supplied by liquid feeding. It can be obtained from fish emulsion, fish powder, blood meal, bat guano, seabird guano, worm castings, and composted manure teas. Some of these work well in drip irrigation.

Foliar feeding can be used when you have plants that need help quickly. You may have received a shipment of plants that were stressed during transport, and they need a quick pick-me-up in order to survive. Seaweed is an excellent choice because it contains growth hormones as well as trace elements. Foliar feeding also helps control diseases and enhances the plant's ability to resist pests.

Production-Field Grown

Field grown is just as it sounds-plants and seedlings are planted in the field and sold as bare-root stock or as balled and burlapped shrubs and trees. This type of production works well for growing shade trees for the landscape industry. It is well adapted tap-rooted trees, mass plantings, and trees that grow large trunks. This is also fairly inexpensive to establish. If you are planning this kind of nursery, you need level ground with good drainage, good soil, and an agreeable climate.

You also need to know the length of time it takes to produce a saleable crop, and you need to know how to plan to have the right varieties available when your customers need them. You need storage space as well. Trees are normally dug in late fall or in early spring. Bare-root trees are then sprayed with fungicides and bacteristats and stored in warehouses until they are sold.

Some disadvantages would be: it requires a lot of space; there is a higher percentage of plant loss, and a longer recovery period after transplanting. There can also be a great loss of topsoil. Balled and burlapped production causes a loss of 200-250 tons of topsoil per acre at each harvest. You have two options: You can replace the topsoil with something else, or you can go to a bare-root operation that does not require soil to leave the farm.

A field-grown operation requires certain soil management practices. You have to be continually building up your soil, planting cover crops, and rotating crops. Living mulches can be planted in the aisles to hold soil and water and to suppress weeds. To improve your soil, integrate living mulches and cover crops with the application of high-quality composts. Also, plant a diversity of species for pest control. It is not good to plant the same type of crop in the same location over and over.

In the early 1980's, Dr. Carl Whitcomb at Oklahoma State University, created an in-ground container called root-control bags or field-grow bags. The bags are made of a nonwoven fabric with a bottom made of a woven fabric or a clear polyethylene. Their use enhances rooting, and fewer roots are lost at transplanting. They make harvesting easier; they save time and labor, and you don't need any special machinery.

Of course, there are several disadvantages. You have to make an initial investment. The bags aren't cheap. After transplanting, the plants need more staking and water. The damaged bags cannot be used. Mechanical cultivation and fertilizer application are difficult, and bag removal can be difficult and time consuming.

Irrigation

You must have an ample supply of water and have a system that can reach your plants adequately and easily. Two of the most widely-used systems are overhead watering and drip irrigation.

Overhead watering is designed for large areas and is probably the least expensive system. You see this often in greenhouses, because the pipes can be installed in the ceiling. Out in the field you will see sprinklers installed on tall pipes to enable the water to reach all areas of the field.

Drip irrigation is more expensive to install, but it uses less water. It waters only the good plants and not all the weeds growing between the rows. It waters evenly and efficiently, and it is less affected by the wind. We've all been sprayed in a nursery when the wind changed. With drip irrigation the water is never sprayed into the air. It goes directly to the plants next to the tape. Drip irrigation contributes to plant growth by supplying an ample amount of water and by discouraging disease and water runoff.

There are many other systems of irrigation, but most of them are expensive to install and use and have more disadvantages than advantages. Regardless of the system you choose, be sure that you give your plants enough water. So many times we will see a plant in trouble and think it needs a shot of fertilizer, when really all it needs is a good long drink of water.

Many states now have rules relating to water runoff and the levels of nitrates left in the water. This is one of the most important issues you will face as a nurseryman. Runoff can be collected in ditches and ponds to be recycled. This recycled water is actually good for your plants because it contains all the nutrients that were leached out of your container plants and the fields.

There are several things you can do to reduce runoff. You should avoid watering bare soil. Always have some kind of ground cover-mulch or a living cover. Rough up the soil to provide surface storage of water. Use less-porous media to retain moisture and nutrients, and use slow-release fertilizers. This will slow down the nutrients being leached from the soil. Research has determined now that plants do better when you decrease the amount of nitrogen fertilizer and increase the amount of water.

Pest Management

When controlling pests, you want to minimize the risks, especially to you and to your employees. Many of the older pesticides caused lung problems to the handlers. Now you have to take a course and pass an exam on pesticide safety and handling.

By combining several methods of pest control, you may be able to have a healthy nursery without damaging the economy, the health of your staff and customers, and the environment. Choose plants that resist the pests common in your area. Encourage the growth of helpful insects and bacteria, and spot treat the problems with pesticides that are not so harmful. It is important that you identify the pests and use the proper treatment.

Weed Control in the Field

Weed control in the field-grown nurseries is very important, and there is a variety of methods, which include herbicides, mechanical cultivation, cover crops, living mulches, weeder geese, flame weeding, plastic mulch, fabric weed barriers, and organic mulch.

There are many kinds of herbicides that affect different kinds of weeds. The use of many herbicides, however, require that you have a license.

If you have a large nursery, you may cultivate with tractors and other large equipment. An innovative tool is the brush hoe. This has stiff brushes attached to multiple heads on rotating drums. As they rotate, they disturb the soil surface and dislodge the weed seedlings.

Flaming works by searing and disrupting the plant cells. If you are careful, you can destroy the weeds and never harm the plants next to them. Broadleaf weeds are more susceptible to flaming than grasses.

Mulches limit the light and help retain moisture in the soil. Without sunlight weeds cannot grow. You can use most anything for mulch-pine straw, wood chips, sawdust, newsprint, or plastic. The mulch should be 3 to 4 inches thick, and it must be replenished once or twice a year.

A fast way to prevent weeds in the field is to lay landscape fabric or sheets of plastic down the rows and cut holes where you put the plants.

For living mulches you can use bird's-foot trefoil, winter rye, or grass sod. A good combination is 80% perennial ryegrass and 20% red fescue. The grass sod can be overly competitive with trees, and trefoil becomes infested with weeds. The ryegrass, on the other hand, can be killed by herbicides, but then it becomes excellent mulch. It provides good weed control, and it increases water infiltration and soil moisture. By improving the retention on nutrients in the soil, it reduces field maintenance costs.

Steam is another effective method of weed control, and it can be used to disinfect beds and greenhouses before planting. Steam is nontoxic, easy to apply, and controls the same types of soil pests as methyl bromide did in the past. It can also be used in a wide variety of climates and conditions. The Sioux Steam Flo, for about $5,700, is advertised to work well in greenhouses. It heats the soil to 140 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 30 minutes and kills pest fungi, bacteria, nematodes, and weed seeds.

In areas of the country that gets hot enough, solarization works. You put clear plastic sheets across moist ground only where plants are to be placed. The sun's radiation heats the soil and kills pests, weed seeds, and harmful insects.

Costs

It doesn't matter whether you are a beginner or an established nurseryman; there are several things you need to keep in mind. How much is your overhead? This can include income or other kinds of taxes, depreciation of your buildings and equipment, interest on loans, rent on your property and equipment, utilities, and insurance.

How much is your maintenance? You have to keep your property in good condition. You want your business to be safe and attractive so that customers will feel at ease as they check out your crops. You need to keep your equipment in good repair, and you need to replace machinery when it wears out. You may also wish to expand your business by constructing new buildings. You always have the costs of buying supplies and paying labor wages. In addition, you have the direct costs of purchasing seeds, plants, potting media, fertilizers, and containers.

When you are pricing your products, always consider how much it costs to produce this item, and for what price is your competitor offering it. Don't forget profit. This is one of your costs just as much as anything else. After all, why are you in business?