From trusted operator to confident leader: what one nursery learned about growing leadership from within
18 September 2026
18 September 2026
In a busy nursery, clear communication matters.
When the pace is high, even small misunderstandings can create friction. A task gets repeated. A decision gets delayed. Someone holds back a question because the moment does not feel right.
That is often what happens when a strong operator starts stepping into leadership and discovers that leading people is not quite the same as being good at the work itself.
That was the opportunity Peter Jong could see at Jong's Nursery in Adelaide.
Matte Rennerts had been on the nursery floor for nearly a decade. He knew the operation inside out. He was technically strong, reliable, and the kind of person others naturally looked to when something needed to get done.
As his role grew, so did the need for a different kind of leadership.
"I've always been quite direct," Matte said. "But I started to notice it wasn't always landing the way I meant it to."
In a production environment, directness can be a real strength. It helps keep things moving and supports quick decisions. But in leadership, there are times when people need more context, more listening, or more room to ask questions.
Learning how to bring people with him
For Peter, the issue was never whether Matte was capable. He clearly was. The question was how to support someone who already had the trust, knowledge and work ethic, but now needed to strengthen the people side of leadership as well.
The Nursery Emerging Leaders Program runs over three months and is built around real nursery situations.
For Matte, that meant working on practical leadership challenges such as communicating clearly under pressure, handling difficult moments with team members, and making consistent decisions during busy production periods.
One of the biggest insights was understanding his natural leadership style.
Matte was identified as a Driver: someone who is decisive, task-focused and motivated by results. In a nursery, that can be a real strength. The program helped him see how to keep those strengths while also adjusting his approach to get the best from others.
"The goal was to build more empathy into how I lead," Matte said. "And I can see a real difference in how the team responds now."
What changed
For Jong's Nursery, the value was practical. Matte was not learning how to do the job - he already knew that. He was learning how to lead in a way that brought the team with him.
According to Peter, that has helped create smoother communication, more confidence during busy periods, and a stronger foundation for future leadership within the business.
Matte's story will feel familiar to many nursery owners. Often, the next leader is already in the business. What they need is not more technical training, but support to make the transition from capable operator to capable leader.
Expressions of interest are open for the next cohort. Contact Jeanette: jeanette@innovativeinfluences.com.au
