Here’s a nice analogy that I came across between Gardening and Managing :

Any good gardener knows that the secret of good gardening, the inescapable foundation for excellent results, lies in soil preparation–unglamorous as that may be. No matter how good the plants are, no matter how much you water or fertilize later on– unless you start by creating a rich, open environment for your plants to grow in, you are likely doomed to failure. Therefore, the wise gardener, before ever making that first, exciting trip to the garden center to pick the plants of his or her dreams, spends time creating great soil. You do this by digging it up to loosen it and to see what it’s like, and then digging things into it. Great soil is loose and open, so the plants can burrow their roots into it easily, and it has natural nutrients incorporated into it as needed–compost, rich topsoil, etc.–so that the plants get the nourishment they need. For a manager, “listening” is preparing the soil. It’s your key to creating a working environment that supports optimal growth. Listening to your employees first allows you to “dig it up and see what’s there.” That is, it gives you a chance to find out what people actually know and don’t know, what has and hasn’t been done, where the concerns and misunderstandings are–as well as the enthusiasm and clarity.