Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
By Wendy Born, Major Street Publishing, $29.95.
For some it maybe a novel concept: using the principles of parenting at work to become a great leader and to create great leaders. What’s more, you don’t need to be a parent to be able to see the comparisons between raising children and creating next generation leaders.
Like parenting, leadership is difficult, challenging and rewarding – sometimes all in the first hour of the day. Leadership can be rewarding, frustrating, fun, risky and scary.
Leadership expert Wendy Born shares a unique framework drawn from parenting principles because she believes that whether you’re parenting or leading, you need to focus on five core areas to get the best out of your people: love, environment, health and wellbeing, language and vision.
“It can make you feel annoyed, furious, happy, proud and inspired, or like you want to curl up in a corner and rock back and forth.” With guidance, leaders learn to build strong and enduring relationships to drive engagement and deliver on real strategic results that make the whole journey easier, more effective and even enjoyable.”
John Buchanan, former World Cup winning coach of the Australian National Cricket Team, corroborates this thinking.
This is what he says in the foreword: “When I talk to CEOs, senior executive teams or organisations about leadership and coaching, I make it very clear that parenting is a very similar role”.
“In fact, parenting can be the most difficult role of all, as you – the parent – are connected emotionally to your child. Consequently, the child can press your emotional buttons in ways that a staff member or colleague or athlete cannot.”
Filled with insight, stories and humour, Raising Leaders expertly parallels parenting with developing cohesive teams, and shows how love, connection and safety are critical for success.
