Turn Your Org Chart Upside Down: Elevating the Role of the Field Team in Landscaping

Walk onto any job site, and it’s easy to see who’s doing the heavy lifting, literally and figuratively. It’s your foremen, your crew leads, and your laborers. These are the people who show up before sunrise, represent your brand on every property, and leave the lasting impression that clients associate with your company.

And yet, in many landscape companies, these critical team members sit at the “bottom” of the org chart.

It’s time to flip the script.

The People Closest to the Work Are Closest to the Customer

Think about it:

The crew is who your client sees every week, not the owner, not the ops manager.
They're the first to hear complaints, questions, or compliments.
They determine the quality of the work that gets done, and the perception of your brand.
When they leave the site, their performance is your company’s reputation.

Why wouldn’t we put them at the top of the organizational priority list?

What Happens When They’re Treated Like the Bottom?

When laborers feel overlooked or undervalued, it shows, on the job site, in the quality of the work, and in how long they stick around.

Low morale, high turnover, and poor communication often stem from a company culture that unintentionally minimizes the role of field staff. In an industry already facing labor shortages, ignoring this reality is a business risk.

Flip the Org Chart: A New Leadership Model for Landscaping

Turning the org chart upside down doesn’t mean removing hierarchy or accountability. It means redefining leadership as service, where every layer of the company exists to support the success of the people in the field.

Sales exists to provide clear, realistic expectations
Operations exists to ensure crews have what they need, when they need it
Management exists to remove barriers and reinforce the mission
Leadership exists to invest in the people who carry the brand to the client

Your field staff isn’t at the bottom. They are the foundation.

How to Show Crews They Matter

Here are practical ways contractors can reinforce the value of their field team:

Start Recognition From the Top
Celebrate foremen and crew leads at company meetings. Share client compliments. Promote from within.
Invest in Field Tools That Empower
Don’t make crews chase down information. Use mobile tools like Include GO to give them everything they need in their hand, scope of work, photos, plans, notes, checklists.
Provide Growth Paths
Don’t just offer jobs, offer careers. Map out development tracks from laborer to lead to manager.
Encourage Two-Way Communication
Make it easy for field staff to report issues, suggest improvements, or give feedback without fear of it being ignored.
Make Culture a Field-Level Conversation
Ask crews what culture means to them, and build your values from the ground up, not the boardroom down.

Tools That Support Field-First Leadership

Include GO was built with this mindset in mind. Our mobile-first platform ensures that field teams are informed, connected, and empowered to do great work—because when they win, your company wins.

Instant access to job info, scope, and photos
Real-time updates and communication
Accountability and visibility without micromanagement
A sense of ownership, pride, and professionalism

Final Thought

Turning your org chart upside down is more than a metaphor, it’s a mindset shift. It means honoring the people who build your business every single day with their hands, their sweat, and their dedication.

When you make them the focus, everything changes: retention improves, quality goes up, and your clients feel the difference.

Let’s stop treating laborers like they’re at the bottom, and start recognizing them as the reason your company stands tall.