10 Leadership Lessons I Learned From My Mother
Our mothers are some of the most influential people in our lives and it is from them that we learn the most, even though we don’t always realize it. They teach us the simplest, everyday things that define us in the future, regardless of whether we are male or female.
I learned many lessons in leadership from my mother. Surely you’ve also learned something similar.
1 – To reflect on my actions
There were many times I was sent to my room for something I’d done. Maybe then I saw it as a punishment, but the fact that my mother forced me to sit alone forced me, whether I wanted to or not, to think about and understand what I had done.
Today, when I see that I’ve done something wrong or that I’m about to do something I shouldn’t, I sit back and think about it in silence, or I go for a walk someplace quiet.
2 – The importance of respect
I’m sure we’ve all been told something like this by our mother at some point: “Who do you think you’re talking to?” Having respect is essential for anyone who wants to be a good leader.
3 – Treat others as I’d want to be treated
This is one of those basic life lessons you learn from your mother. Not only in your relationship with her, but also with your siblings or with your family. She not only teaches this “golden rule” but also exemplifies it in her own behavior.
4 – Respect elders
When we are young, we think we’re going to run the world and that we know more than anyone else. But some things can only be learned over time. They cannot be found in books, nor can they be uncovered by experiments or by practice.
Our elders offer us guidance, support, and experience, and respecting them will help us create a culture that lays the foundations of respect that, one day, we will demand of others.
Giving up your seat on a bus, making room on the inside of the curb and helping a person who is physically disabled are much more than just physical gestures. As a leader, you must know how to respect those who came before you in order to lead by example and to learn from them.
5 – The importance of manners
Learning good manners is something you do at home. As a leader, you must create a culture and a way of doing things. Mothers helps us learn the line between what is tolerable and what is not.
6 – Be careful who you surround yourself with
“You can judge a man by the company he keeps ,” as the saying goes. As children we do not realize this, and as adolescents we rebel against the idea. However, the people we surround ourselves with does say a lot about who we are and influences us more than we realize.
Choosing your company wisely and serving as company that provides value to others is an important lesson you learn from your mother.
7 – Not to judge by appearance
This is one of the most useful lessons you can learn in life from your mother. Learning to look on the inside and value what really matters is a skill that every good leader must master.
8 – Work before play
First things first. This lesson on organization and productivity is essential for anyone who wants to be a good leader because it has to do with setting priorities, which is fundamental for effective leadership.
9 – Fix problems without violence
If you have siblings, I’m sure you know what I mean. How many times have our siblings tried to solve things the hard way and how many times have our mothers asked us not to hit each other?
Managing your emotions and learning to manage conflicts are two of the most important lessons you can learn from your mother. Lessons you need to learn well in order to exercise effective leadership.
10 – The importance of perspective
When you’re a teenager, any setback looks like the end of the world. Learning to accept life and face the future with a broader perspective is crucial.
However hard the blow, in the end it’ll pass. That’s a lesson you learn from a person who feels your pain alongside you and accompanies you as you overcome it. That person is your mother. As a leader, you have to bear that in mind, and you must pass it on to your own children.
