Three Leadership Principles From Mom

The evil eye.   That was what my brother and I called it in our house.  It was “the look” we got from mom when we knew we had done something wrong.  In some cases we got that look when we were about to get something wrong.  The look was so intimidating it brought nightmares at times.

The calm voice.  That was the person we saw when we were in over our heads with frustration and just needed to vent.  Little did I realize years ago what a great leader my mom was, but as I look back I see a few principles we can all learn about leadership from my mom, and who knows, maybe your mom as well.

1. Love – This is where all good leadership starts. A good leader cares about those he or she leads.  This is demonstrated in various ways.  Psychologist Gary Chapman is known for five ways people usually demonstrate love:  Acts of Service, Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving gifts, and Physical Touch.  An entire post could be written about these five love languages especially since Chapman has written multiple books on the topic.  All of these can be applied in our leadership at work or at home.  Mom always knew which I needed, and as a leader when we can implement Chapman’s ideas with those we lead so they will feel value, appreciation and perform at a much higher level.
2. Firm and Clear Boundaries – Remember I told you about the “evil eye”? That was mom’s quick way of setting a boundary for us ornery boys.  As leaders those we lead need to know what the expectations are and the lines they cannot cross.  When we were kids we had a playground at school and often it had a fence.  We knew we could go anywhere inside the fence and have freedom to use our skills and abilities freely.  Outside the fence we would endanger ourselves.  As leaders we set boundaries that will bring clarity to what we want accomplished.  One caution, make sure the boundaries do not stifle the creativity of those you lead.  A fine line exists between healthy boundaries and micromanagement . . . but that discussion is for another day.
3. Consistency – In my home, mom was always there. She demonstrated the labor of love in making our lunches for school every day.  She had breakfast prepared for us in the morning and she was there to listen to us after we got home from school or as she drove us home from our extra-curricular activities.  All of this demonstrated consistency.  We knew she was there and could count on her.  As leaders when we are consistent in our availability, communication, responses to challenges and more, those we lead have confidence in us and trust us which creates a healthier work environment.

What about you?  As a leader at work and home which of these areas do you need to improve on?  Pick one of these and take one step further in your growth as a leader at work and home.  Maybe there is another principle you would draw from your mom’s leadership, share it in the comments section below.  In the meantime lead well at work and home.

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