Learning About Life and Leadership from Little Ones

Last week, I was fortunate enough to take a family vacation to Hilton Head.  As I watched my kids experiencing so many firsts, not only was I warmed by their joy, but I was also reminded of so many important life and leadership lessons.  I’ve often said that my kids keep me grounded, and they remind me of what’s really important.  (Did anyone else grow up with the poster, “All I Ever Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten?”)

Our quality time together proved that we can, indeed, learn valuable lessons from our children!  Here are some things they reminded me…

Take time to notice the little things…and appreciate them too.

My kids noticed every shell, sand crab and swimming dolphin.  One evening, we even grabbed our buckets and went on a ‘treasure hunt’, knowing we were sure to find great treasures!!  My kids took note of everything from a pelican’s feather to a washed up jelly fish.  They were fascinated by every little detail of the beach and the habitat it provided…and they appreciated each detail for its uniqueness.

 As adults, we tend to get caught up in our hectic schedules and busy routines.  We sometimes forget to take note of so many little things that add to the beauty of our world.  I’m thankful to have witnessed my kids’ sheer delight from some very simple things that remind me to stop and appreciate them (and so many other details) too.

 Be curious.

We saw a plethora of horseshoe crabs on the beach, which fascinated and scared the kids too!  They asked a million questions (which we couldn’t answer) about these well-armored creatures.  It resulted in an Internet search one afternoon, followed by a full report on this more than 300 million year-old species.  With each new fact discovered, my son, in particular, only wanted to know more.  After close to an hour, we finally exhausted Google , his curiosity and me too!

 As leaders, it’s critical that we, too, remain curious.  Technology, and the world overall, are changing quickly, and we need to keep up with the advancements and trends.  There’s always more information we can learn, data we can research and mentors who can help us advance.  Be open to it and soak it in!

Don’t be afraid to try new things.

My kids were so adventurous!  Neither one had ever seen the ocean and both jumped right in!  Both of them started swimming under water, a newly attempted feat!  My six-year old went parasailing…and my four-year-old spent all morning crying because she couldn’t do it too (they didn’t have a harness small enough!)

 With enough data and information to be sure they wouldn’t be in trouble or in danger, my kids were willing to push their limits.  (I love this about them, and it always pushes me to be brave as well!)

 We must be willing to step out of our comfort zones and try new things.  This is where learning and growth originate.  One never knows where a new talent could be discovered!

 Listen to your body.  It tells you when you should eat, sleep and get physical.

This sounds so simple.  It seems somewhat crazy that I would write it….but, alas, we adults often ignore our body’s cues and messages.

 Kids, on the other hand, feel it and just say it (or scream it!) out loud “I’m tired!”  “I’m hungry!”  “I want to play!”

 To be the most effective leaders, we must listen to and care for our physical needs and overall health.  We cannot give to others what we don’t have, and we cannot be the best versions of ourselves when we are depleted.  Take care of yourself to take care of others and to take care of business!

 Trust your leaders.

For every new experience my kids had on this trip, they would first look to us as parents for approval and advice.  Once we provided permission and direction, they moved forward with fearless abandon.  They knew we had their best interests in mind, and they trusted us that they would be safe and would benefit from the experience.

 As we grow in our career, we often become more cynical and skeptical of others.  We tend to question actions and motives of our leaders.  Instead, we should attempt to trust the process by which they’ve gained their leadership success.  In doing so, we should also give them a chance and trust them too.

 Celebrate success!

It’s so incredibly fun to celebrate milestones and achievements with our children.  They get truly elated and are eager to celebrate and high-five each and every new accomplishment.  As parents, we love to cheer them on.

 At work, it shouldn’t be any different.  We need to take time to acknowledge and celebrate the little successes along the way to our overall goals.  People feed off of enthusiasm, renewed hope and encouragement.  We should be plentiful with it and join in the celebration!

 What have you learned from your kids?  Are there valuable lessons that they have modeled for you? 

Join the conversation and leave a comment!  I’d love to hear about it and  honor our future leaders!!

 Erin Schreyer is a certified Leadership Coach and Strengths trainer.  She is the President of Sagestone Partners and Founder of the non-profit group, Authentic Leadership Cincinnati.  Erin is passionate about helping leaders (even great ones!) maximize their effectiveness, as well as their positive impact on both people and business results.  Erin can be reached directly at eschreyer@sagestone-partners.com.