I got this idea from a recent New York Times magazine issue. It dealt with awkward truths and the more I thought about it, the more entertaining it got. We all experience these awkward truths in life.
Examples
Some awkward truth examples listed in the article were things like having fun at a funeral or enjoying the sight of a burning building. And if you think you’re immune, think again, because we know you slow down like everyone else to see the mangled body of a crashed car by the side of the road.
And as much as I hate to admit it, I experience these awkward truths in my landscaping work. I’m not proud of it but acknowledging it is good therapy.
Doggy bags
It happens every year. A new guy line trims right through an old doggy bag, the contents of which are old enough for carbon dating. And in a split second, the young dude goes from cocky lawn care technician to a cry-baby covered in dog waste.
Now, any good landscape supervisor would offer tissues and directions to the nearest water source. Not me. I laugh every time because it’s a ridiculous sight and I’m glad it’s him, not me. Awkward!
Red Seal fail
Imagine a dude attempting his final Red Seal trade exam for the second time and failing. Bummer. It’s a tough test because it tests your experience, not just your knowledge.
A good supervisor would offer kind words of encouragement and extra sources of information like science articles and books. Not me. I smile because this all means that, for now, I’m still the only Red Seal Journeyman Horticulturist at my company. The dude just made me look even better.
Awkward, I know. Luckily, it doesn’t last. I’m just cataloguing awkward thoughts that run through my head.
Totally Bagged
Some days in the field are easy and some are brutally busy. And new workers suffer the most because they’re not yet used to the grind. This is especially true on hot summer days. The dudes drift back to the truck with their dusty faces looking as if they wanted to it push their mowers of a cliff.
A good supervisor would praise their efforts and give them easy cool down tasks near the truck. Not me. I push them hard to the end like a prison guard, enjoying the look of their tired faces.
But like the other awkward feelings, it all passes. The workers collect their experience and we all go home proud of our accomplishments on site.
Delegation disaster
Sometimes delegation isn’t executed properly. I know of one worker who got keys to a big truck and his job was to drive around and pick up green waste tarps. Easy, right? Except he had never driven one of these big landscape trucks.
On his way back up the hill, he didn’t leave enough space in what I consider to be a spacious curve, and took down a street lamp! He levelled it.
When I stopped by the site later in the week, I spent more time photographing the downed street lamp than I did thinking about the worker and how we could get him more driving time. Awkward.
Conclusion
If you can, leave me a comment about your own awkward truths. It’s OK to note some of the awkward ideas your brain generates. Sometimes it’s comical. Then I go back to being the same great, encouraging and sensitive landscape supervisor. I think.
