MBA? MUM-B.A: How skills developed in Motherhood are directly transferable to leadership
Any parent can attest to the multitude of changes that occur once children arrive: more mess, less time, more smiles, more tears. There is an increasing awareness, however, of the transformational skills that occur in primary carers – so called ‘soft skills’ that are highly sought-after characteristics in leadership teams.
The enhanced capacity for complex thinking, multi-tasking and creative problem-solving that a mother uses daily, are also recognised as the attributes of transformational leaders. Which means parental leave should be seen as an up-skilling opportunity, rather than career break. Kim Dawe, Leadership and Talent Expert at KPMG says:
“Many of the ways women show up differently in their return to paid work could be seen as an indicator that accelerated adult development has occurred, meaning greater leadership potential, not less”.
Even the most conservative corporate environments have moved away from the traditional stereotype of suite-and-tie leaders working around the clock. High performing teams require leaders who manage well-being, nurture potential and approach conflict resolution with compassion and empathy. Sound like a familiar skill set?
In a ground-breaking White Paper, The Mother of all Skills, the research team at RMIT FORWARD aggregated the most important attributes for future leaders, and identified the following natural up-skilling opportunities that future leaders cultivate as parents:
Self Awareness – there is no domain that will require your strengths and reveal your weaknesses quite like smaller versions of yourself. RMIT also suggested that the identity shift in becoming a parent requires practising a growth mindset, a vital strength in life and business.
Resilience – the ability to continue paid or domestic while enduring the physical and emotional changes (and discomforts) of pregnancy is an incredible display of strength and the ability to perform despite adverse conditions.
Adaptability – effective leadership requires mental agility and flexibility that comes with parenting. Few – if any – days go as planned when raising young children, making parents highly adaptable.
Empathy – neuroscience has shown that structural changes occur in the brain which increase the ability to understand another person’s thoughts, feelings and needs, vital skills when leading people and teams.
Authenticity – advocating for what truly matters is a vital role for leaders and mothers. Whether it’s medical choices or strategic direction, choices made with authenticity and confidence always produce better outcomes.
Stakeholder Management – managing the competing priorities of multiple parties? Effectively communicating internal and external demands between different stakeholders such as… children and partners? The ability to hear different perspectives and balance competing interests while communicating effectively is a vital skill for organisational (and family) cohesion.
Whether you knew it or not, during your time caring for children you will have flexed and honed these attributes, growing and developing as a parent, individual and leader. So…congratulations! Perhaps it’s time you paused to celebrate the remarkable achievement that is your MUM.B.A.
