When I would interview candidates in my HR recruitment days, I would ask them to recall a leader they admired. The interesting part about their responses is that many of the leaders they spoke about were mothers, grandmothers, teachers, coaches, and even peers. These weren't individuals with Manager, Director, VP, or Chief in their titles. They were ordinary people who simply made a lasting impact in the person’s life.
My point is being a leader doesn't require a title. It doesn't require training or lots of letters after your name. It requires the desire and ability to make a lasting impact on someone else.
The title of ‘Mom’ might not have a fancy ring to it, but there is no leader more devoted to making an impact than a Mom. As a mom, you are a leader of your children and your influence in their lives and on their future is enormous.
As a former leader with over 20 years in the corporate world, a mom of almost 15 years, and now a coach for moms, I noticed many overlapping traits between the role of a leader and that of a mom. Here are a few qualities the two roles share:
1. They make time for their team. As a leader, it’s easy to fall into the trap of busyness, and the same is true, if not more so, for a mom. The best leaders prioritize one on one time with their team members. They thoughtfully create the time and space to connect with their team, listen to their needs, celebrate their progress, and support them where it is needed.
As a mom, one of the most important gifts you can give your children is your time. When you make time and intentionally focus on being present in those moments, you show your children that they are important and they matter.
2. They learn from their team. The best leaders know that they don’t know it all. They are focused on growing themselves and believe those around them contribute to that growth. The same is true in motherhood. Believe it or not - you don’t know it all. Your child can be one of your greatest teachers. She can help you become more aware of your words and actions, as children often mirror the words and actions of their parents. She can teach you to step out of your comfort zone and take risks. She can force you to take a break, set aside your to-do list, and embrace the art of play. The lessons you can learn from your child are infinite if you are open and willing to receive them.
3. They ask for help and delegate. In addition to not knowing it all, great leaders also recognize that they can’t do it all. So they ask for help and delegate tasks. Many moms struggle with this one, but those who do it well understand the value both to themselves and their children. By delegating tasks, you’re able to balance your workload and empower your children. You are showing them that it’s okay to ask for help and giving them ownership and an opportunity to develop new skills.
In addition to creating a culture of support and balance, delegating tasks communicates trust because it requires the ability to pass control to someone else. This is true both in leadership and parenting. Giving your children responsibilities that require you to trust them will build their confidence.
4. They learn from their mistakes. Leaders aren't perfect and they don't expect their teams to be. When they embrace their imperfections they create a safe place where others feel safe to show up as their authentic selves, take risks, fail, and learn from their mistakes. Great moms create a family culture where the expectation is not perfection. It’s that everyone tries their best, knowing that their best is good enough. When things don’t turn out as expected or mistakes occur, it’s viewed as an opportunity to gain knowledge and the experience of getting back up to try again.
5. They take action despite the presence of uncertainty. Confident leaders face fear, doubt, and uncertainty but they don’t let these stop them from taking action. In times of uncertainty or crisis, teams look to their leader for guidance and direction. The same is true with your children. Confident moms recognize that the outcome isn’t all that important, after all, you can learn from the experience and try again. What’s important is how you control your thoughts, manage your feelings and move into action. Your children are watching how you face uncertainty. They are learning how to overcome self-doubt and face their fears by observing you overcome and face yours.
Moms make great leaders for many reasons so it’s not surprising that their children boast of the lasting impact they’ve had on their lives.
In the spirit of continuing to strengthen your leadership skills as a mom, try this in the coming week:
Observe how you lead your children - not from a place of judgment.
Identify the strengths you bring to this leadership role.
Celebrate and continue leaning on those strengths.
Consider where you might have room for improvement.
Remind yourself each morning that you are a leader and you are raising future leaders.
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Hi! I’m Crystalynn, a mom of two and a certified coach. I help moms on the brink of burnout to manage their stress, regain balance in their lives, and develop the skills and strategies they need to thrive as parents and individuals. Through coaching, my clients become aware of the sabotaging thoughts that result in busyness, people-pleasing, and perfectionism. We explore how those thoughts impact their wellbeing and influence their parenting practices and impact their children. Then, we implement strategies to help them take back control of their thoughts. If you want to learn more about how you might benefit from coaching, schedule a free session.