Last month, I became the parent of a bonafide voting, tax paying legal adult. A friend of mine put it best to me in a text: "You raised an adult human. Amazing!"
She's right, it is amazing.
Being a parent has been by far the most rewarding and challenging job I've ever had and has helped me become a better coach and leader at work.
It's been the perfect case study for the principles of situational leadership and servant leadership, two philosophies I subscribe to and remain a student of to this day.
Here are some of my top leadership lessons learned from the last eighteen years of being a parent:
People like to be stretched and take on more responsibility, often before you think they are ready
You can never praise too much
Ask more than you tell and listen fully
Having someone set their own goals results in more ownership
Empathy strengthens the relationship
Cheers to more great coaching and parenting conversations in the years ahead!