Leadership and Parenting

Firstly Happy Mothers and Carers Day - You Rock!

Parenting is the most challenging job you will love. It also takes a lot of leadership.

For those who don’t know me, I am a full time solo parent of a 15-year-old daughter. Yes deep breath. It is tough. Thing is, I know many parents; men and women who are trying to keep it together at home whilst working. Let me tell you something, I am juggling numerous balls; building a business, being a leader, mum and entrepreneur, leading a team, managing clients and programs and the list can go on and on. The only thing that matters is the leadership you are demonstrating to your children and to yourself.

I am meeting more and more parents who are doing it all and trying to balance all the many balls. In turn, I thought it is time for me to share some insights and ideas to help you make to work.

1.    Take the Oxygen Mask first. You know how they tell you on the plane in case of an emergency to take the oxygen mask first? Make sure you do it. Take care of yourself first. Make sure you do things for yourself too,

2.   Engage, Watch and Listen. Try everyday to do something that you can engage with your children, and watch their behaviour. They might be telling you one thing but their behaviour is saying another. Listen to them, actively listen to them. Keep the conversations open and supportive.

3.   Inclusive Leadership. I include my daughter in my business. I take her to meetings at times, she attends speaking events with me, she helps me put together goodie bags and help me with my programs. She knows the purpose and vision; the what, why and how.

4.   Let the mess go. I can get home and it looks like a disaster. I am exhausted and the last thing I feel like doing is cleaning up after a teenager. I focus on what matters. I focus on the whole picture. It is okay, it is just mess and eventually it will be sorted.

5.   Remember you are human. There are days I feel overwhelmed. I doubt myself. I feel guilty. Remember you are human; feel everything. Don’t rest your feelings as good or bad. You will get through it. Keep moving forward and do your best. There is an art and science to parenting and leadership. We are going to stuff up. Remember to just breath.

6.   Ask for help. I find this a tough one; it is a must. Ask for help. When you are feeling overwhelmed or you have times when things are due and you need to work a little bit long or harder, ask. I have an amazing support network around me and I make sure I ask for help.

7.   Focus on their strengths. I found my daughter’s strengths and I focus on them. She is an excellent writer and I have asked her to write an article for my magazine. She was thrilled. I don’t harp on the weaknesses, as we are not perfect. I celebrate her talents and strengths.

8.    Get off the technology. I make a conscious effort now (after my daughter flagged several times) to get off the computer or phone at home. I also make sure that I walk into the house without the phone in my hand and finish all conversations prior to getting home. If I need to work on the rare occasion, I tell her and make sure she understands why.

9.   Show them you care. They are your family. No matters more. They are the only things that matter. Remember to tell them you love them, you are proud, celebrate the B on their report, have fun and let them be kids. You might find you will feel like a kid again too.

10.  Be present. Believe me as a parent you can lose focus on the little things like their room isn’t tidy or the big things like the massive report you need to present. This is life. We are busy (even though I have taken this word out of my vocabulary); I get it. The best gift you can give them is to be truly there. Be present. Everything else can wait.

To all those solo parents – you totally ROCK!

I would LOVE to know your tips

About Sonia McDonald

Sonia McDonald, CEO & Founder of LeadershipHQ; is an Entrepreneur, Mum, Thought Leader, Dynamic Keynote Speaker, Leadership Coach and Author. Sonia McDonald was recently named in the Top 250 Influential Women across the Globe by Richtopia. She is Australia’s Number ONE Leadership Executive Coach. Sonia has been published in The Australian, HRD Magazine, Business Insider, Business Woman’s Media, Style Magazine, Richtopia and Women in Focus. She is Australia’s ONLY Inspirational and Dynamic Leadership and Neuroscience Keynote Speaker. She is also the Author of Leadership Attitude now on Booktopia and Amazon.

Her company, LeadershipHQ are the Leaders in Leadership and they provide solutions, coaching, programs and interventions that will help your organisation to achieve maximum success. Their purpose and vision is to partner with organisations and leaders in building high performance leadership, culture, diversity and strategic interventions – improving staff engagement, motivation, retention and ultimately – the bottom line!