My girls have be talking about Mother's Day for weeks: planning, sneaking, scheming, secret-keeping.
The littlest girl has decided that every day is Mother's Day. So, on sunny afternoons she brings me flowers in her outstretched palm declaring "Happy Mother's Day," day after day.
I love that.
As a mom, I know I am a leader, making a difference where I am, every day.
Leadership is influence, and moms influence their families in ways both large and small. Moms are both front line supervisors and top level executives.
In a top level executive role, moms create culture in their families.What kind of family do you have? We have a start-the-day-snuggling family, a be-outside-as-much-as-we can kind of family. We are a library family, a read-together family; we are a traditions kind of family, with homemade pizza Fridays and pancake Saturdays. Every family is different, with culture shaped on purpose or along the way.
As front line supervisors, moms set the tone and shape attitudes in their families. I have noticed lately how much my mood can affect my children and change the tenor of our day. If I match their grumpy and raise with my own cranky, we all fall apart. But when I start the day well, everything — from getting out the door for school to getting to bed at night — goes more smoothly.
Moms make myriad decisions daily, both mundane (front line supervisor role) and far-reaching (top level executive role.) Can I have a piece of gum, Mom? What's for dinner tonight? Can I join the swim team? Have a cell phone? Go to my friend's slumber party? Even the most routine decisions can have long lasting consequences.
In our roles at the front lines and the top levels of our families, our influence is undeniable. The rewards may not always be as easily identifiable as on Mother's Day, but every day holds it's own joys. I measure my days in sticky kisses, warm hugs, and purple flowers, offered in a tiny upturned palm.
For more Mother's Day thoughts, revisit my posts from last Mother's Day or this outstanding reflection from Erin Schreyer, also posted last year.
I am the founder/CEO of the Weaving Influence team, the author of Reach: Creating the Biggest Possible Audience for Your Message, Book, or Cause, and the host of the Book Marketing Action Podcast. I’m a wife and mom of three kids, and I enjoy running, reading, writing, coffee, and dark chocolate.
Becky,
I agree that parenting is one form of leadership. It’s a shame that some employers will not look upon the executive and supervisory roles that parents use at home as legitimate skills sets they can apply in the workplace.
There are only so many official (read, “with title”) leadership opportunities in an organization. If employers would broaden their thinking about the opportunities to lead– both formally and informally, they could capitalize on the many parents who come to work each day with their valuable skills ready to put to use.
Hi Becky,
I agree with Jennifer that it’s important that employers and employees recognize that leadership is not something that goes with a title; instead, it’s an aptitude/ability that people can have at varying points in time to help their organization move ahead.
The example you give about mothers and leaders reflects this perfectly since, as you pointed out, many of the tasks a mother does on any given day is much like those of leaders.
It’s also fun to see you writing about leadership and motherhood as I posted a piece today on this same subject called “Mothers – Our First Example of Real Leadership“. It’s interesting to see the different lessons/insights we can gain from looking at the role our mothers played in our lives as we grew up and how it connects to leadership.
I love this post and Tanveer’s. About a year and a half ago I left the full-time workforce and opted to stay home with my last child. I am not a typical stay at home mom. I teach for MSU in the Organizational Leadership program and started my doctorate at Capella. I was worried that I would not have enough day-to-day experiences to incorporate leadership into my life and boy was I wrong!
Leadership opportunities abound every day. I have made it a personal goal to teach my children so many of the concepts and theories that I teach to my students. I want my children to be emotionally intelligent, to stare conflict and adversity in the face, to have integrity, and to form their own style of leadership. I think this will only prepare them for the “real world” once they get there.