I often say that everything I learned about leadership came, not from books, but from being a dad.
I often say that everything I learned about leadership came, not from books, but from being a dad. With a 26 year old daughter and 25 year old son I can tell you that parenting is leadership. I also learned many lessons from my Dad who raised me from the time I was five years old. He passed away nine years ago and truth be told, I wish I would have given him a bigger hug the last time I saw him. Unfortunately I didn't know it was going to be the last time. But his legacy and lessons live on in me and thankfully I get to share them with you. In this spirit here are 11 thoughts about fatherhood and leadership. Love is the greatest parenting strategy there is. Let them know you love them unconditionally. If I can't walk the walk at home, I can't talk the talk out in the world. I want the people who know me the best to experience the best of me. 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. You can't be selfish and be a great dad. You must commit to your kid’s growth and serve and sacrifice for them. 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. No matter how hard you try you will still make mistakes and mess up. They say you should save money for your kid’s college. I also believe you should save money for your kid’s therapy when they are adults. Parenting will give you a crash course and a lifelong lesson in patience. If you are open to learning and growing your children will become your greatest teachers. It's all about unconditional love. My children don't care how many books I wrote. They just want to know that I care about them and are there for them. It's not about who the world says you are. It’s about who you are to your children. No one is perfect. The goal is to learn from your mistakes and be better today than you were yesterday. And it’s never too late to learn and grow. A few years ago, I sat down with my wife and kids and said “Ok, what did I do wrong. What could I have done better? What did I do right?” It was a great conversation where I agreed with everything they said and led to an even closer bond. When your children fail, encourage them. When they succeed, encourage them. Most of all, 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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