The more we lead, the more we work with leaders, and the more we parent, the more we see compelling parallels between leadership and parenting.

Leaders are parents, and parents are leaders. They are in different settings with parallel roles.

Here is an excerpt from a poem by Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D. titled, "Children Learn What They Live."

As you read it below, replace the word children, with employees, and the connection between parenting and leadership is abundantly clear.

In the positive coaching model below, the left side is a leader's choice. The right side are the consequences.

You can choose positive coaching and get alignment, engagement, ownership, accountability and commitment.

Choose to push it off or cheat on the positive coaching habits, and you will predictably get the opposite. 

Win or lose, you choose!

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After my daughter returned from a recent dining etiquette class, I asked her to debrief me. I really wanted to know what I didn’t know on this topic. She shared with me some new learnings.

For example, how do you remember how to properly set a table? The utensils on the right have 5 letters like the word “right”: spoon and knife. The utensil on the left has 4 letters like the word “left”: fork. I love these simple nuggets – ones I can remember and act on. She continued to share.