What Can Good Parenting Teach Us about Leadership?

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Do good parenting and leadership have much in common? A new book by an organizational and clinical psychologist makes that argument.

“Care to Dare: Unleashing Astonishing Potential through Secure Base Leadership,” by George Kohlrieser, uses the “secure base” that children can explore from and return to as a metaphor for good leadership.

“Secure base” leaders are calm under pressure and dependable, says Kohlrieser. They accept their employees as people first and see their potential. They listen and ask constructive questions rather than dictate. They say the right thing at the right time, delivering a powerful message that’s short and to the point. They encourage risk-taking and see mistakes as opportunities to learn.

In short, good practices that could make for a very positive work environment.

Adapted from Secure Base Leadership: Can IT Leaders Learn from the Example of Parenthood? at IT Business Edge.