The No.1 Skill to Parent as a Leader
Whilst some see leadership as a role that heads up an organisation or a department, we as parents equally head up a family and a home – the main difference being we don’t get to leave our leadership role at home at the end of each day, like we can if it were our job outside of the home.
There are various styles of leadership, each with different outcomes. The 19th century autocratic style of leadership was one of command and control, dominant in the industrial age to encourage employees to conform and mass produce. The 20th century authoritarian style of leadership was about creating positive relationships whilst enforcing the rules and was the norm in the information age. As society has evolved so too has parenting and we are now at a major tipping point in parenting styles. Today, in the 21st century, the age of disruption, the new model of parenting is a leadership parenting style and just like great leadership in organisations is about authenticity, it’s true at home, even more so.
So what then is authenticity and why is it so important in leading children?
Authenticity is “representing one’s true nature or beliefs; true to oneself or to the person identified.” It is when we are authentic, we are at our most creative. In a report by the Foundation for Young Australians, research indicates that between 2012 and 2015 the demand for creativity in job advertisements increased by 65%.
The no. 1 skill to develop authenticity is self awareness.
If you find yourself at logger heads with your child, chances are there is something you can become aware of in yourself that will help relieve the tension. Perhaps you believe you should be listened to because you’re the parent, perhaps you like to do things quickly as soon as you are asked. In contrast, your child may not be able to make sense of your reasoning or your child may like to reflect before they take action, thus creating tension. Becoming aware of what drives you and your actions becomes a critical piece in understanding yourself and how you choose to respond to your child.
Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world.
Today I am wise, so I am changing myself. ~ Rumi
