I often say that everything I learned about leadership came, not from books, but from being a dad. With a son and daughter I can tell you that parenting is leadership. Working to become a better dad made me a better leader and working to be a better leader made me a better dad. In this spirit here are 11 leadership and parenting lessons.
1. Love is the greatest parenting strategy there is.
2. If I can’t walk the walk at home, I can’t talk the talk out in the world. If you don’t live it there’s no power in what you say.
3. Being a Father requires you to be a leader and manager. As the leader you share the vision of what’s possible for your children and as the manager you provide the support, guidance and coaching to help them make it happen.
4. You can’t be selfish and be a great dad. Your kids are your team and they need your time, energy and support.
5. I don’t want my children to be what I want them to be. I want them to become everything God created them to be. They are not my masterpiece. They are God’s masterpiece. My job is to help shape and mold.
6. A great question to ask your children… “What’s it like to be on the other side of me?” Listen to their answers. They will make you a better leader and parent.
7. Parenting will give you a crash course and a lifelong lesson in patience. So often you can’t force. You must surrender and allow things to unfold.
8. If you are open to learning and growing your children will become your greatest teachers.
9. It’s all about unconditional love. My children don’t care how many books I write. They just want to know that I love them. It’s not about who the world says you are. It’s about who you are to your children.
10. No one is perfect. The goal is to learn from your mistakes and be better today than you were yesterday. Don’t beat yourself up. Just keep learning and growing.
11. When your children fail, encourage them. When they succeed, encourage them.
My dad passed away ten years ago and I wish I would have given him a bigger hug the last time I saw him. So the next time you see your parents or children give them a bigger hug than normal. You’ll be glad you did.
Lead Positive,
Jon
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