6 things I learned about managing my team from my toddlers

Sometimes, the truth is weird.?

Most of us believe that we teach and help the kids grow through our knowledge and experience. But this is a lie and a myth. The truth is that our kids also teach us and help us grow as individuals through their knowledge and experience.?

My kids are 3 plus - the age where curiosity, mischief, and tantrums are perfectly balanced. They are quite a handful, especially when we go out. I try to spend as much time? with them because I am sure that this time, when we are their heroes, idols, and a lot more, and sometimes their enemies, and the time they wait for you with keen eyes and eager hands, will soon go away as they grow.?

Yes, they will grow

That is the first thing that I learned about managing my team from my kids. They will grow, and they will grow less dependent on you, and more independent. While that is certainly a happy and peaceful thought, it will also leave you with a sense of longing when you look back. Especially with Google Photos which will keep reminding you of the good and bad times a few years back.??

Do we hold back, or do we let go? There is no point in holding back. It makes sense only if we let go.?

And that is how your teams are too. People who join your team look upto you in the initial days, but soon they grow. Sometimes, they grow beyond your teams and will need to move on. There is no point in holding them back just because they do their current job perfectly well.?

They will figure out a way

I remember my wife chiding me whenever I used to help my kids tie their shoes. She was right. After a point, even if I dont tell them what to do, they will figure out a way. And they have always have. Yes, they do have times when they are too lazy to bend, and they want to me tie their shoes. But they have their tying their shoes, and living their lives. They have a way for everything. From eating to walking. They have figured out a way.?

And the same is the case with your team. Yes, you can be there for them. You can even tell them a way. But in the end, they will figure out a way to solve things. And in most cases, those ways will be better. And it is important that you keep learning from them.?

They will have their own likes and dislikes

My daughters dont like waking up early. I do. And I must confess that the gap I get between the time I wake up, and the time they wake up, is probably my most productive time. And this difference in tastes dont end here. One of them likes spicy food, and one of them doesn’t. And it continues.?

And your team is similar. You really cannot a one-size-fits-all approach to management to your team. You really need to change your style of leadership and interaction based on what the individual really wants. And what the individual really prefers. Hyper-personalization cannot come in customer segmentation only. It really is relevant in team management also.?

They will still look up to you

They really wait for you to come home. They really expect you to know all the answers. In their own little minds, they will have a lot of apprehensions, aspirations, fears, and future plans (yes future). And they will look up to you to solve most of them. Or even guide them through.?

And your team is similar. They will look upto you to guide them through the tough times. And times they are uncomfortable. Each of your team will have their apprehensions, aspirations, fears, and future plans. And it is your accountability to consider as much as possible. Be their mentor. And dont be afraid to prioritize to priortize this relationship even if it means that it may cost your organization once in a while.?

Let them make mistakes, and let them be curious

An ant may not be an awesome object that may catch your attention for 15 minutes. You probably may not run happily behind a butterfly. Because you know what they are. And you may not make the mistake of lifting two legs because it is fun :). You know you will fall down.

I am not saying that your team will make the same mistakes. But they will make mistakes. And they might see old problems in a new light. You may know that some things wont work. But do not discourage your team. It is OK if they make the same mistakes that you did. Because sometimes they might unearth a new solution. It is OK for your team to be fascinated by things that you may find routine or boring. Because it is new for them. Let them be.

And it is OK not to be perfect

Yes, all of us want to be perfect. But none of us are. We will make mistakes. And we will learn. And as a parent, I do.?

I remember the time around an year back where one of my daughters and I had gone out to buy medicines for my other daughter. And we had lots of ice-cream. (Yes, ice cream when the other daughter was sick). And by the night, my daughter had a bad case of food-poisoning. She had to be hospitalized. Everyone was onto me. I felt bad. Really bad. Luckily, things became better soon. That was a lesson for me.?

I am learning that X works, and Y does not work. I am learning that doing A was probably not right, and doing B was probably the right thing. But, hey its OK. Thats a learning for you.?

And that is the same as managers. It is OK not to be perfect. It is OK to make mistakes. As long as you do not screw up the careers of others. And it is OK to come across as imperfect. Thats what your team will learn from you. And probably that is the best learning that they will take forward in their careers. And probably not make their respective teams work hard.?

The way you act as a parent, and the way you act as a manager/leader will have an exponential impact. It will impact the way your kids act later in life, and you team members act with their teams. As long as we have this in mind, it is OK