Turning Weeders into Leaders with Jeff McManus

Today I got to interview Jeff McManus. Jeff is the Head of Landscape Services at the University of Mississippi, and a grower of plants, people, and ideas. Jeff is a problem solver who understands that doing more with less is a 21st century mandate. Faced with a multi-million dollar landscaping project, a demand for excellence and high productivity, and a stagnant budget, Jeff knew that growing the people would be critical for growing the plants.   Key Takeaways: [:35] Jeff has done amazing things for the landscape department at the University of Mississippi, but he thinks of himself primarily as an entrepreneur. [1:46] If you want to make money, save money, and have more time, you must be proactive with your team. [5:07] Jeff tells us about how his landscaping business is structured, and how he keeps structuring himself out of a job. [8:42] Leaders determine team mindset. [10:04] Jeff’s Landscape University program took about four years to develop, but it has significantly increased productivity and accountability. [12:32] You have to understand what motivates your team. [15:50] Jeff is happy to see his past employees start their own landscaping businesses. [17:55] How do you find the time to put systems and processes in place? [19:19] Jeff has created a conference called How to Create Your Own Landscape University. [23:11] Jeff coaches business owners and is very picky about whom he works with. [26:05] Thanks again for listening, and please, reach out to Josh anytime through email at [email protected]. If you enjoyed this interview, please leave us a review on iTunes.   Mentioned in This Episode: [email protected] Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, by Daniel Pink JeffMcManus.com Jeff McManus on Facebook Jeff McManus on Twitter