Parent Leaders are Parent Readers
I’m starting with the man in the mirror. I’m asking him to change his ways. And no message could have been any clearer. If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself, and them make a change. It’s okay, you can keep singing because I know you were. Read it again and you can even do a sing-along.
Regardless if you are a Michael Jackson fan or not, the message in this song rings home for us as parent leaders. As we seek out to develop the leadership ability of the members of our family we need to start with that person in the mirror. We live in an ever-changing world and in order to keep up we need to be changing and progressing each and every day. Development expert Jim Rohn once shared a thought his mentor John Earl Shoaff shared with him, “Jim, if you want to be wealthy and happy, learn this lesson well; learn to work harder on yourself than you do on your job.”
Work hard on yourself as a parent leader. Parents that work hard on their own leaders
hip skills are going to lead by example as they are teaching the members of their families to be leaders as well. Set some time each day to do something to improve yourself. This might be something as simple as thinking about the day for a couple of minutes before bed and coming up with a challenge for improvement tomorrow. One of the keys of self-development are the goals you set.
hip skills are going to lead by example as they are teaching the members of their families to be leaders as well. Set some time each day to do something to improve yourself. This might be something as simple as thinking about the day for a couple of minutes before bed and coming up with a challenge for improvement tomorrow. One of the keys of self-development are the goals you set. As you sit down with your children, spouse, or those in your inner leadership circle share your goals with them. Let them know who you are trying to become. Ask them for some feedback on something you can improve upon. There is nothing more humbling than asking your children what you can improve upon. When you do this with an open mind you can have some good discussions and have them help you become better.
One way that has helped me over the years is reading great books. I encourage you to find books on leadership, self-development, or maybe a new skill you want to learn. I have to confess, I don’t really like to read. I always said that if it was that important they would make a movie or a youtube video about it. Harry Truman said, “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” As I realized that I wanted to be a good leader to my family I started reading more and I have to tell you that some of the most important things I have learned are not books they have made movies about.
By reading more, there are some many aspects of leadership and parenting I have learned. I am not a fast reader by any means but I try and set aside time each day to read 10 pages of a good book that will challenge me to improve myself someway. One way that has worked for me is helping with the transition from being a leader at work to a leader at home. When I am done with work for the day this is when I read my 10 pages. These 10 pages make me a better parent each day.
It not only helps me set aside time each day but it helps me take off the work hat and relax a bit before I have to but on the husband and father hat that I so love. It puts me in a different mindset and allows my mind to transition from work to a leader in my home. At just 10 pages a day I can normally finish a book a month depending on the book. I recommend leadership books (I am reading Tribes by Seth Godin now. Great book on leading your family tribe) and when you see leadership or aspects to lead or manage your team think about your family because you are a leader. You have that calling just like I do so embrace it, develop it, and become the best person and parent leader you can be one day at a time.