top of page

Leading Business Evolution to Sustainable Growth & Innovation

  • linkedin
  • generic-social-link

Leadership Lessons from Parenting: How Raising Children Can Help You Run a Successful Company

Writer's picture: Ray ThompsonRay Thompson

As an entrepreneur, have you ever considered how parenting and running a company are similar? Both require leadership, guidance, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. In fact, there are valuable lessons that can be learned from parenting that can help entrepreneurs build successful businesses. In this article, we will explore three critical lessons from parenting that can be applied to running a company.

1. Meet Them Where They Are to Get Them Where They Need to Go

For successful parenting, it is vital to acknowledge where your children stand at the moment in regard to their development, abilities, and interests - then adjust your strategies accordingly. The same concept should be applied when running a business; you must consider each team member's individual pace of growth so they can reach their highest possible potential.


Consider your team's unique abilities, experience, and capabilities; then supply the support and resources necessary for them to succeed. This could include offering training or mentoring to nurture their development of new skills, or proposing flexible arrangements that match their needs. By meeting each member on a personal level, you'll generate an atmosphere of trustworthiness, appreciation, and nurturance that inspires everyone to reach their peak potential.


Research has shown that companies that prioritize employee development and support have higher levels of employee engagement, job satisfaction, and retention. In fact, a study by LinkedIn found that employees who have a strong sense of purpose and feel supported in their development are more likely to stay with their company long-term.

2. Being the Mentor Is Way More Valuable Than Being the Boss

As a parent, it is essential not just to be an authority figure for your children but rather their mentor. Guide them, provide advice, and demonstrate a positive example - don't merely order them around and expect unquestioned compliance. This thought process applies in the business world too: as the leader of your team, take on the role of mentor instead; give direction so they can succeed!

Instead of an overly directive approach, adopt a coaching method and supply your team with consistent feedback and recognition. This way, you can foster a motivated culture where colleagues trust each other to take risks and introduce new ideas without feeling constrained. As a mentor for the team, you will cultivate an environment of support that allows them to develop their skill sets and thrive.


Research has shown that mentoring programs can have a significant impact on employee engagement, job satisfaction, and retention. A Deloitte study found that employees with a mentor are more likely to feel satisfied with their career progression and more likely to stay with their company long-term.


3. Let Them Make Their Own Mistakes to Learn, Grow, and Become More Resilient

In parenting, it's essential to let your children make their own mistakes to learn, grow, and become more resilient. This means allowing them to take risks, make decisions, and learn from the consequences, rather than trying to control every aspect of their lives. The same principle applies to running a company. As a leader, you must let your team members make mistakes and learn from them, rather than trying to micromanage every aspect of their work.

Granting autonomy and ownership to your team members will foster a culture of experimentation, where taking risks is encouraged. Offering the freedom to make mistakes can enable learning since errors are seen as chances for growth and progress.


Research has shown that companies that prioritize innovation and experimentation have higher levels of employee engagement, job satisfaction, and innovation. In fact, a study by Harvard Business Review found that companies that encourage experimentation are more likely to innovate and succeed in the long term.

Conclusion

In conclusion, running a company is similar to parenting in many ways. By applying the lessons of parenting, such as meeting your team members where they are, being a mentor rather than a boss, and letting them make their own mistakes, you can create a successful and innovative company culture.

Sources:

  1. LinkedIn Learning. (2021). The benefits of learning and development. LinkedIn Corporation.

  2. Deloitte. (2018). The ripple effect: How mentoring impacts the mentor. Deloitte Development LLC.

  3. Harvard Business Review. (2018). The case for corporate experimentation. Harvard Business Publishing.


3 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Peacetime and Wartime in Business

In my career, I can now say that I've survived and thrived in three economic cycles - 2001, 2008, and now 2022. With each cycle, the...

Comments


bottom of page