Leadership lessons from moms

I give leadership training. Many business entrepreneurs, corporate executives and professional people have enrolled in my two-day course “Level Up Leadership.” This program has gained traction and many corporate clients have requested me to bring the lesson to their offices and do the program in-house. Leadership training is what I do and I love doing.

But do you know that there are many vital leadership lessons we can learn from great leaders who do things without much fanfare yet they just faithfully and competently demonstrate great leadership skills in the home? They are called “mothers.” Now, let me explain:

1. GREAT LEADERS PUT THEIR HEART AND SOUL INTO THEIR PEOPLE WITH GENUINE CARE AND LOVE.

Look at moms. They do not let their ego get into the way of leading their children (and spouse) to achieve greater heights and to tap into their potentials. This is why these leaders do not produce great followers. They produce more good leaders. And the family will never suspect the mother as using them for her own personal advantage or serving her own personal interests.

Moms know their purpose and moms love their people. I wish all the leaders in the workplace do the same don’t you?

2. GREAT LEADERS PASS ON THE CREDIT TO THEIR PEOPLE.

Look at moms. They do all the heavy lifting. Moms always boast about how good, great, smart and intelligent their kids are. It’s hard to find mothers who would always brag about how good they are at “mothering” and how stupid and inept their children are.

Don’t you wish every leader you know would not be so hungry in grabbing the credit and recognition from their people but would celebrate their people’s success? 3. GREAT LEADERS MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. Look at moms. They make things happen. Good leadership demands action. They step up and stand for something because they know these are duties and obligations expected from them.

Many moms I know are not just involved in HOMEwork; yet they take the time to attend Parent-Teacher’s meetings, they get involved with community or church work as they have a penchant for action and doing things.

Don’t you wish that all the leaders in your organization would take the initiative of making things happen and produce good results rather than dumping work and blaming others for the mess they themselves have created?

4. GREAT LEADERS ARE FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE.

Look at moms. What they do now is important to them because they are so concerned with making sure that their family would have a good future.

Great leaders plant the seed of success in the people they lead. They love to see the day when their people become future leaders and would be better versions of the leaders they succeeded. This is why they coach, mentor, teach and invest themselves in the lives of the people they lead.

Don’t you wish that your leaders would not be so stingy; withhold information but would be so generous in teaching you everything they know and encourage you to become better?

5. GREAT LEADERS STRETCH AND CHALLENGE THEIR PEOPLE TO BECOME BETTER.

Look at moms. The great moms train their kids to do chores. To be responsible and accountable for their actions. To study hard and play hard.

Great leaders dare their people to become better and to produce greater results such that one day, their people would look back in amazement and realize that they could do so much because they have been encouraged and challenged to do so.

Look at moms. They bear the pain of disciplining their kids balanced with a great deal of love and encouragement. They teach their kids to practice honesty, to have integrity, to be tough in times of adversity because they do not only want their people to perform better, great leaders want their people to become better people.

Don’t you wish your leaders would have this same spirit of wanting you and your team to tap into your potentials that you never knew was even there had it not been for them who pushed you to become a better version of yourself today compared to before?

Yes. Mothers are great leaders and though I give leadership trainings all over the place, I learn a great deal and have been trained by them. But then again mothers do not get the recognition many business leaders get.

So at least for today, why don’t you and I encourage our leaders and greet them a genuine, “I love you mom and Happy Mother’s Day!” It’s the least we can do.

(Experience two inspiring days of leadership training with Francis Kong in his highly acclaimed Level Up Leadership on May 17-18 at Makati, Shangri-La Hotel. For registration or inquiries contact April at +63928-559-1798).