Too often, Father’s Day falls in the shadow of Mother’s Day? Well, this year it will not be forgotten. Well, at least not on this blog post! To all the dads out there, we have a lot to be thankful for from you. With your time and concern, you provide leadership and guidance from the very beginning in the home.
As a leader and author of Leadership Building Blocks: An Insider’s Guide to Success, I’d be remiss if I did not reflect about the leadership examples I learned during my formative years at home. In her book If You’ve Raised Kids, You Can Manage Anything: Leadership Begins at Home, author Ann Crittenden highlights some of the transferable skills that women bring to the workplace. These include multitasking, collaboration, and team-building. Every good leader brings a healthy dose likely learned from earlier experiences.
So, to pay homage to the all the father’s today – our parents, stewards, and guardians – I’d like to reflect about how I have been influenced as a leader. With an overlay of a few of the leadership fundamentals from Leadership Building Blocks, here are a few ways leadership skills can be translated from what is learned in our homes:
Leave a legacy – Don’t just get involved but make a difference. Don’t strive to just blend in but rise to the top and be exceptional in everything you do. Talk with your father figures about their legacy. Learn about how they did to lead “beyond their post.” Ask about how they learned to have an impact in their work, family, and community. How did your father or father figures decide what to pass along? What did they pass along?
Fortitude – Always ask for help when you need it. Putting pride aside means being determined to find a way, solve a problem, ask a question, or face the unknown. When we take time to find answers, we are better prepared. When we take time to seek input, we learn the “why” behind the answer. If we take time to learn to forge ahead, we just might have a leadership figure who has “been there, done that.”
Everything Global – We all encounter different people and challenges. To be successful means that we are seeking support from those around us. Shape your present and plan your future with mentors, coaches, and allies. These people will help nurture your development and continuously encourage you. Find helpful guidance from those around you and, in turn do the same for others.
