Leadership Style of Working Mothers-Pt. 3
okay, last one.
They pick their battles
How important is it for the teenager to pick up his room? How important is it for the sales manager to fill in their call report. If it is important, she probably will come after the result in several different ways that engage, threaten, co-opt or punish to get the accountability.
They hold firm when they believe it is really important for their constituency (kids or staff or company objective)
When it is really important they will fight to the bitter end. You’ve seen the Mother whose kid has a peanut allergy argue about the snacks at pre-school. Or, the scientist who will not sign off on a bad lab sample, even just once. Be passionate about what you truly value.
They tend not to care who gets the credit.
Ronald Reagan said “you can accomplish much if you don’t care who gets the credit”. Moms don’t get much credit but they get a lot of blame. Deborah Tanner in her many books about the differing linguistics of men and women describes how all female groups don’t appreciate the woman who brags. The group is very conscious who does what and you will get rewarded for doing your part over the long term. So, from an early age, girls learn to work with the group for the goal and don’t go looking to get all the credit. Credit the group and the others who helped you succeed.
They can negotiate with 3 year olds.
How much patience and long term perspective does that take? Now, apply it to the work place and you see why some women seem to get ahead in our flat world, that now has less hierarchy, more cultural difference and instant feedback though social networking about how we are showing up.
Leadership Style of Working Mothers Pt. 2
SO, what else can we learn from working mothers?
They are used to emergencies
Kids throwing up all night and no sleep. Not enough cash to meet payroll. This too will pass.
They know how to ask for help.
There is so much to do to keep a household running, get the kids to school and have enough energy to focus at work, most working Mom’s get pretty used to groveling, begging, trading off favors, living with disapproval, living with compromise and asking for help-usually from other Mom’s. The controversy about working v. non-working Mom’s is way overplayed. GO ahead, ask for the help you need. That is not a sign of weakness, it is a recognition of real limits.
They adapt to change
The client just decided to change the ad campaign you had been working on for 2 months. The kid just decided turkey is poison after only eating turkey sandwiches for the last 3 months. SO, what else is new?
They pick their battles
How important is it for the teenager to pick up his room? How important is it for the sales manager to fill in their call report. If it is important, she probably will come after the result in several different ways that engage, threaten, co-opt or punish to get the accountability.
What can we learn from working mothers? Pt. 1
What can we learn from working Mothers that lead large organization?
- They can change activities quickly
- They focus on results
- They keep track of lots of random information
- They prioritize and reprioritize all the time
- They go for the best fit solution quickly when there is an emergency
- They are used to emergencies
- They know how to ask for help
- They adapt to change
- They pick their battles
- They hold firm when they believe it is really important for their constituency (kids or staff or company objective)
- They tend not to care who gets the credit
- They can negotiate with 3 year olds
While some of these ideas may be a little too perfect, I have seen everyone of these stories in real life....just not all in the same person. :>)
I'll break this down into smaller pieces over the next few days.
They can change activities quickly
Standard advice for most CEO’s is to clear your desk of distractions and focus on one thing at a time. I wish. Most CEO’s can’t get that kind of clear focus until all the staff goes home at 7 pm. So, be clear on what is important and schedule time on your outlook for you to do YOUR projects.
They focus on results
Many firms place a lot of emphasis on face time-being there late because the boss is late. You will notice that the working Mother is not one of those, many times to her political detriment. She has only the allotted time before the day care center closes to get all the day’s work in. She doesn’t smooze, she’s meeting with her staff, or finalizing the report. She probably hasn’t seen the latest movie, or watched the basketball game, but she doesn’t miss the deadlines at work or at home. Pay attention to the results and the outcomes.
They Keep Track of Lots of Random Information
She remembers your birthday. She remembers the birthday of all her staff. She knows their kids’ first names and what grade they are in school. She remembers the client’s birthday. She remembers the names of her kids’ friends. She remembers what is important to the person inside the employee or client. Pay attention to the relationship.
They prioritize and reprioritize all the time
The client calls and wants the project finished 2 days early. She puts the kids to bed and calls the team who all work on the project remotely until it is agreed that it will be finished on time. Be flexible.
More to come on Wednesday.....