7 Things Parents have in Common with Leaders
I know it’s probably not your first thought when you become a parent.
“I’m a leader now”
But I wish it were…
As a society, in organisations we’ve accepted leadership development as the norm. You get some training and development so you can grow into your role.
But as a society, we still believe we should just know how to parent. But the truth is unless we have been taught the skills in how to bring out the best in others, or had a role model in our parents or in the community around us, where do we learn these skills?
Here are 7 ways parents and leaders are similar.
1. Responsibility: As parents we are responsible for the well-being, growth, and development of our children whilst working long hours, looking after ourselves and running a home. There are several competing responsibilities just like a leader has in their organisation of team wellbeing, the success of the team and tracking to organisational goals. Navigating these competing responsibilities without burning out is a skill.
2. Decision-making: As parents, we make important decisions from moment to moment that have a significant impact on our children. We are constantly considering their needs as well as others in the family and our own. And depending on priorities, we are often required to make difficult choices. Leaders in organisations are required to do the same on a daily basis.
3. Communication: The way we communicate as parents and leaders have the ability to inspire, motivate and guide those around us. Effective communication is essential for both parents and leaders. We need to communicate in ways that our children hear us and we hear them and share feedback in ways that help them learn and grow. These are all learned skills and skills that leaders in all contexts need to develop.
4. Adaptability: As every parent experiences, each new stage of development in our child brings a new level of learning. The way we communicated to motivate/gain cooperation when they were young is not the same as when they got older. Our ability to adapt is key to being able to meet the changes and challenges each stage of development brings. Leaders in organisations face constantly changing landscapes and adaptability is a key skill to develop.
5. Flexibility: There is a phrase that I love to use…” we see children as we are.” Let’s say we have on a pair of glasses and that’s how we see our children (or our team, in the case of an organisation leader). If we are not aware of the prescription of our glasses, we could assume that what we see is everyone's reality. The truth is each child/person has their own lens. Gaining the flexibility to try on others’ lenses leads to understanding, which builds trust, connection, and safety. All are essential when helping others be their best.
6. Vision: Starting with the end in mind, helps inform day-to-day decisions and priorities to focus on, especially when busy. When parents share a vision for their child, they can work together to achieve it. Much like leaders in organisations work together with their team to achieve the vision of the organisation.
7. Self-leadership: As parents, we are responsible for what we say and do... how we respond when we make mistakes; the way we work towards goals, and how we navigate challenges. Our children, much like a team, are watching us and learning.
These are just some of the commonalities between parents and leaders. I would love to normalise developing ourselves as parents to relieve the pressure we place on ourselves and learn the skills that bring out the best in us, our family, and our children.
What are your thoughts on parenting as a leader?
Much love,
Dina