Just like a garden can tell you a lot about the people who live in a house, I can tell the state of your culture and the level of employee engagement by the state of your office plants. To me, they are a marker of what is going on, what gets attention and what doesn’t.

Here’s what I mean . . .

• Don't have any? This is a sterile work environment that doesn't feel natural.

• Have fake ones? You want to look like you care but it’s all superficial. From a distance it seems you do but up close the truth comes out.

• Paying someone else to manage them? You probably want to outsource all your HR stuff too because you perceive that’s also a waste of your time.

• Hire them rather than own them? You don’t want long term relationships or you change your mind a lot about what sort you want. Sound like your staffing plan?

• Covered in dust? They are neglected and left to fend for themselves.

• Container full of dead leaves or rubbish? This signifies plant abuse and should be illegal. 

So if this list reminds you of where you work, do something about it! Start a trend by bringing in your own plant and encourage others to do the same. Pay some attention to any plants you do have and see if the spirit of gardening can be ignited or reignited in your workplace.