Groundskeeping involves the actions of taking care of the grounds, yard, and outdoor spaces that surround a building. Some definitions include tending land for aesthetic and functional purposes in institutional settings.
Groundskeeping involves, pruning trees, mowing grass, trimming bushes or hedges, pulling weeds, planting flowers and planters, and the daily or weekly care that plants need and built spaces demand because they get dirty. Water flow from runoff is a part of this work. Groundskeeping can also include shoveling, plowing, ice removal, and safety management for people entering and exiting our buildings.
In the United States, nearly one million people have groundskeeping jobs. We generally care about our outdoor spaces. The level of care given to the spaces and plant life surrounding our buildings demonstrates how we view the world and people; how we interact with our environment and with our employees. The level of care given to public spaces and parks communicates what a community values – or doesn’t.
Next time you enter your workplace, look at it as though you are entering for the first time. Notice the condition of the building itself. Observe the grounds. Identify what you can do to help your workplace look better – picking up trash for instance. Share observations with the groundskeeping team to help improvements get made. Also, share positive comments when you see the grounds looking great.
Next time you enter a business or public space, notice what the groundskeeping is communicating. Is it inviting your business? Or is the outdoor space suggesting that you go away?
Groundskeeping is a part of the entrance to our space (see last week’s blog about entrances) and creates first – and lasting – impressions. Does your workplace groundskeeping communicate care and attention to detail? Or does it communicate lack of care for the space, the environment, and the people working in and visiting it?
Workplace: Managing the moments of our day-to-day business lives takes work. Together, let’s explore what issues and activities affect us every day (or some days) that we go to work. – Jana