Parenting and leadership skills



How the lessons we learn in parenting are desired in the workplace. Have you considered that Parenting and leadership skills are similar? 

I have long been convinced that parents make fantastic employees.  I am also convinced that many managers still don’t fully recognise the true value that parents add to the workplace.

True, during the early days of return from paternity or maternity leave, new returners will struggle with sleep deprivation and the bumpy transition back to work after having had a period of leave.  HOWEVER, this is usually very short-lived and the longer term benefits are there for the taking.

Where Parenting and Leadership Skills Overlap

Consider these skills that you learn as you become a parent that are valued in the workplace:

Multi-tasking – managing the multiple and often immediate demands from a baby, toddler or older children gives your organisational skills a boost.  Juggling several projects and priorities at once, with a few last-minute cries for help thrown in will be no problem to a well-practised parent

– Maintaining perspective – as we become parents, we are reminded of the most important things in life – that of our loved ones safety, health and happiness.  Managing workplace conflict, seeing things from others’ perspective, being empathetic and objective – will come easier to working parents

Discipline – as a parent you have to be a leader to your children.  You have to show them how to behave, set the boundaries, and when these are over-stepped, you have to explain the consequences.  As a manager in the workplace, we have to lead by example, set clear objectives, and when these are not reached, feedback needs to be given

Respect, not friendship – trying to be your child’s best friend will not lead to a respectful relationship, where your child trusts you to provide guidance and boundaries.  Trying too hard to befriend and please your team at work

– Listening and empathy – we all need to feel listened to, especially during times of stress and upset.  This applies to both your children and your colleagues.  Consider the tired toddler, hormonal teenager or irate boss.  The same listening, recognition and understanding techniques can be applied!

Let’s help our parents embrace these new skills and remind our senior managers of the long-term value and benefit of our working parents.


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