When Progress Doesn't Look Like Progress

From the Desk of Our Client Success Manager

A while back, I bought some clothes at a French market, and tucked into the bag was a little packet of rose seeds. I thought it would be fun to see if I could grow them - though probably with higher expectations of my green thumb than reality warranted. Months later, the plant is full of strong green leaves and looks pretty healthy - but still no roses.

At first, I felt a bit fed up. Wasn’t the whole point to get flowers?

Then I caught myself: just because the results aren’t what I expected, doesn’t mean nothing’s happening.

Growth Isn’t Always Visible

With roses, there’s a whole stage of development that happens before the blooms appear. The roots are anchoring, the stems are strengthening and the plant is quietly preparing for the energy it will need to flower. None of that is obvious to the eye - but it’s all essential.

Teams and organizations go through the same cycle. Often, the most important progress is the least visible: a leader growing in confidence, a team experimenting with new ways of working, or a system slowly ironing out inefficiencies. Just because it isn’t headline-worthy yet, doesn’t mean it isn’t real progress.

Proof of Progress

When I looked at the plant, I kept thinking, “These aren’t the results I signed up for.” But the leaves are actually a sign of health - they’re evidence the plant is alive, growing and capable of more in the future. The “green" is proof of readiness, not failure.

In business, we often discount these kinds of early signs because they don’t look like outcomes on a dashboard. But things like stronger communication, greater collaboration or more employee initiatives are the green leaves. They may not feel like the big win yet, but they show you’re heading in the right direction.

Patience Unlocks Performance

The worst thing I could do for my roses would be to give up too soon, or to keep digging them up to “check” why they’re not blooming. Plants need time and consistent care to reach the stage where flowers appear.

IIt’s the same with people and organizations. Leaders who push too hard for instant results can unintentionally stunt long-term performance. Sustainable growth requires patience, trust and a willingness to nurture the process - even when the flowers aren’t visible yet. When leaders hold steady, the bloom that follows is usually stronger and more resilient.

The roses will bloom in their own time. Until then, I’m learning to celebrate the green - and to notice that progress doesn’t always have to fit the picture I had in my head. 🌱

Beatrice Pace

Client Success Manager

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🔗 Get the Book

This same perspective is at the heart of Growing Forward, a new book by Adena Johnston - a valued member of the Kōkua Hub Advisory Board. It introduces the GARDEN framework, helping HR leaders develop “systems sight” and positioning them as master gardeners who architect talent ecosystems and drive organizational success.

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