"The Child Within Us: Why Corporate Leaders Should Nurture Their Inner Child"

Today is Children’s Day, and it’s a perfect reminder that, regardless of age or professional title, there’s still a child within each of us. As corporate executives over 40, balancing boardroom dynamics, strategizing for growth, and making tough decisions, we may often feel distant from those carefree days of childhood. But if we look closely, the essence of our childhood—the curiosity, resilience, and simple joys—can teach us powerful lessons about leadership and decision-making. In fact, some of our fondest childhood memories mirror the skills we need to thrive in our professional lives today. Let’s take a nostalgic walk down memory lane and rediscover the value of that inner child.

1. The Art of Exploration: From Backyard Adventures to Market Discoveries

As kids, exploring the backyard or venturing into a park felt like embarking on a grand adventure. Every tree or new path brought excitement, new discoveries, and, at times, a few scraped knees.

In the corporate world, innovation requires the same courage to explore unknown territories. Just as we navigated childhood terrain with eagerness, we now approach new markets, industries, and ideas. When we face unfamiliar challenges, that inner child reminds us to remain curious, keep exploring, and accept that a few bumps along the way are part of the process.

2. The Sandbox Mindset: Teamwork and Collaboration

Remember the days of building sandcastles with friends? Together, we would bring buckets, toys, and ideas to build our dream castle, pooling resources and ideas until the masterpiece was complete. We learned early that working together yielded more success and fun than going solo.

In the corporate world, successful teams thrive on collaboration. Whether it’s a new project, a merger, or a product launch, the spirit of teamwork remains the same. When we embrace that "sandbox mindset" at work, we remind ourselves that every team member has a role to play, and each brings value to the collective vision.

3. Embracing Setbacks: From Falling Off a Bike to Handling Failure

Learning to ride a bike often involved falls, scraped knees, and a lot of frustration. But we didn’t give up—we dusted ourselves off, got back on, and kept pedaling. As children, we understood that setbacks were part of the journey toward mastery.

In the boardroom, we face setbacks that may shake our confidence: a missed opportunity, a project failure, or an unexpected downturn. Yet, like our younger selves, we find the resilience to stand back up. Our inner child, who once tackled challenges with tenacity, reminds us that every failure is just a lesson in disguise.

4. Playfulness and Creativity: The Power of Imagination

Who didn’t love an afternoon with crayons, drawing anything and everything our minds could conjure up? Creativity flowed effortlessly, whether we were drawing spaceships, castles, or jungles. In childhood, imagination had no limits, and we were open to exploring all possibilities.

As adults, creativity remains one of our most valuable assets. In business, we’re often challenged to think differently, to envision solutions that don’t yet exist. Reconnecting with our childlike imagination allows us to approach problems from fresh angles, stay adaptable, and innovate in ways that surprise even ourselves.

5. The Importance of Asking Questions: "But Why?"

Children are known for their endless questions, especially the famous "why?" Whether it was questioning the sky's color or the shape of the moon, we constantly sought to understand the world around us. Asking questions was how we learned.

In corporate settings, we sometimes lose that questioning mindset, especially in hierarchical environments. Yet, great leaders understand the power of asking "why." This curiosity helps us dig deeper, analyze more critically, and make better-informed decisions. By nurturing that childlike inquisitiveness, we can continue to grow, innovate, and understand our business and our teams on a deeper level.

6. Celebrating Small Wins: The Joy of Simple Victories

In childhood, the smallest achievements felt monumental. Remember the thrill of winning a school race, completing a puzzle, or acing a spelling test? These victories taught us that even small accomplishments were worth celebrating.

Corporate life often brings high-stakes goals and pressures, and it’s easy to overlook small successes. But reconnecting with our childlike joy in small wins can help us stay motivated, recognize our progress, and build momentum. Each small victory is a step toward larger achievements, and celebrating them reminds us why we started in the first place.

7. Authenticity and Empathy: Approaching Relationships with Openness

As children, we were open-hearted, approached friendships with sincerity, and expressed our feelings without hesitation. We cared for others genuinely, unfiltered by ego or pretense.

In the corporate realm, where decisions can affect entire teams and organizations, empathy and authenticity are invaluable. Staying connected with our inner child reminds us to approach others with sincerity, to communicate openly, and to lead with compassion. Our inner child urges us to show our true selves, making us not only more approachable leaders but also stronger ones.

Keeping the Child Alive: A Key to Lasting Success

Children’s Day celebrates the spirit of youth, innocence, and curiosity. As corporate leaders, keeping the child within us alive is more than nostalgia—it’s essential for personal and professional growth. By embracing curiosity, creativity, resilience, and joy, we enrich not only our work lives but our personal lives, too.

So, on this Children’s Day, let’s honor the child within. Let’s nurture our inner adventurers, builders, creators, and dreamers. Because when we do, we find that we lead with greater wisdom, and that is the legacy we want to leave behind.