In the realm of parenting, the role of leadership extends far beyond providing food, shelter and guidance. Just as in the corporate world, effective leadership within the household entails fostering open communication, collaboration, offering constructive feedback and more importantly praise. It also involves setting the aim and outlining clear family goals.

Embracing these principals not only helps to establish harmony within the family but it also cultivates a sense of shared responsibility and accountability among its members, something I like to call, collectively committed and collectively accountable households.

As we know, communication is the cornerstone of any successful relationship, be it professional or familial. As a parent, maintaining open lines of communication with your children fosters trust, encourages dialogue and strengthens bonds. Just as corporate leaders engage in regular meetings and discussions to align on objectives, parents can hold family meetings to address concerns, share ideas, and establish goals. Collaboration lies at the heart of a thriving family dynamic. Taking part in decision making instills a sense of ownership and belonging which is critical for connection with our children. Just as teams collaborate to achieve organizational objectives, families can work together to accomplish common goals, whether it’s maintaining a clean-living space, managing finances, sitting for dinner 4 nights a week or planning vacations.

Feedback is also a powerful tool for growth and development, both in the workplace and home. As parents, providing constructive feedback allows children to learn from their experiences, make improvement and take ownership of their actions. Just as employees benefit from performance reviews, children thrive when given constructive feedback that helps them understand their strengths and areas of improvement, perhaps not in the moment in the latter case, but none the less, the hard stuff needs to be heard as well. I like to start my feedback sessions with praise and strengths first, this builds trust and connection in the moment and allows for the constructive feedback to be received with more acceptance. The “how” we give feedback is also important and should always be done when the child is ready to receive it and not in the “heat of the moment”. Being reactive, is not feedback 😊, and, I appreciate that this will happen from time to time, we are all human, I get it!

Setting clear goals is also essential for guiding family dynamics and fostering a sense of purpose. Much like corporate entities establish mission statements and strategic objectives, families can define their values, aspirations and priorities too. By setting family goals, such as spending quality time together, promoting academic or athletic success, fostering a spirit of generosity, whatever your family jam is, it is the parents role to instill a sense of purpose and direction within the household.

Now we come to Accountability, this is the glue that holds a family together. Each member must recognize their role in contributing to the overall wellbeing and harmony of the household. Just as employees are accountable for their actions and decisions, family members must take responsibility for their behaviors, attitudes, and contributions to the family dynamic. We’ve all seen family plans get disrupted when someone doesn’t hold up their end of the bargain. Now, we obviously need to be flexible with younger children and associated tantrums coming into play, but as kids get older, we need to help them understand how their behavior influences the overall family unit at a given time.

In essence, being a leader in your household involves more than just making decisions or giving orders. While it’s your role to set the aim and the vision you want for your family, the path to get there, involves your whole team, (ie, your family members). Creating an environment where every member feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute to the collective good, we as parents begin to cultivate a sense of shared purpose within our families. Being collectively committed and collectively accountable lays the foundation for a fulfilling home because each member understands their role in shaping the family’s landscape.

I leave you with this– be the leader, not the boss of your family. It takes each member to make the familial unit work.