Motherhood and Leadership
The Leadership Lessons We Learn from the People Who Raise Us
Happy Mother’s Day to everyone. A special shout out to all the moms, grandmas, aunts, mentors, and caregivers for everything you do.
You might be thinking, “Hmm… I’m not a mom. What does this have to do with leadership?”
Quite a bit, actually. Let’s face it , the people who raise us often shape the leaders we become.
Leadership is not just about titles, promotions, or organizational charts. Leadership is about influence. It is about showing up consistently, helping others grow, creating safety, setting expectations, listening, encouraging, correcting, and loving people through challenges.
That sounds a lot like motherhood to me.
My mom once shared with me that she didn’t think she had accomplished much in life. That saddened me because I have always believed—and still believe—that my mom accomplished a great deal. She was always there for my sisters and me, and I can’t think of anything more important than that. Just like great leaders are there for their teams.
I asked her a question:
“Mom, do you think you did a good job raising three girls who are productive, honest members of society?”
She looked at me and said,
“Of course. I think the three of you turned out great.”
(Her words, not mine. 😊)
I told her:
“Then I think you did one of the most important things a person can do in life—raise three solid human beings.”
That conversation reminded me that many of the most important leadership lessons are not learned in boardrooms or classrooms. They are learned around kitchen tables, in carpools, through difficult conversations, quiet sacrifices, and everyday examples.
What My Mom Taught Me About Leadership
1. Bloom Where You Are Planted
You can grow from every experience you have.
Great leaders do not wait for perfect conditions. They learn, adapt, and grow wherever they are. Some of the greatest growth happens during seasons we never would have chosen for ourselves.
2. Keep Your Priorities Straight
My mom always knew what mattered most.
Leadership often pulls us in a hundred directions at once. Strong leaders stay grounded in their values and remember that people matter so much more than productivity.
3. Be Present
One of the greatest gifts someone can give is their attention.
My mom taught me that being fully present matters. Whether at work or at home, people remember how we made them feel when they needed us most.
4. Create a Safe Place to Fall
There was always food on the table, a ride to activities, a listening ear, and most importantly—a safe place to fall.
The best leaders create environments where people feel supported, respected, and safe enough to learn, grow, and even fail occasionally without fear.
5. Be Respectful
Respect was expected in our home.
Leadership without respect eventually loses influence. People may forget what leaders say, but they remember how leaders treat others and how they made people feel.
6. Shape Lives Through Example
Leadership is often caught more than taught.
Our actions speak louder than words. The way we handle stress, conflict, kindness, responsibility, and integrity becomes a model for others. If you think others aren’t looking, think again – they are.
7. If It’s Not Working-Do Something About It.
My mom believed if you don’t like something, work to change it.
Great leaders don’t stay stuck in unhealthy situations. They take responsibility and create the change needed to get where they want to be.
8. Listen More Than You Speak
My mom always said, “You have two ears and one mouth for a reason.” Use two twice as much as you use the one.
That lesson still stays with me today.
Listening builds trust. Listening creates understanding. Listening is one of the most underrated and underutilized leadership skills.
9. Kindness Is Always a Choice
I remember sharing with Noah just before he went to kindergarten:
“I expect you to be kind to everyone.” You may not like everyone, but I expect you to treat everyone with kindness. You are the one in control of your own actions, no one else.”
Leadership begins with personal responsibility. We can’t always control circumstances, but we can control how we treat people.
10. Small Things Matter
Many leadership moments are not dramatic.
They are the daily check-ins. The encouragement. The consistency. The follow-up phone call. The authentic thank-you(s) for doing a great job. The quiet sacrifices nobody sees.
Leadership is often built through ordinary moments repeated over time, which turn into extraordinary learning, lasting influence, and lives forever changed.
A Few Final Thoughts
Motherhood and leadership share many of the same qualities:
Patience. Sacrifice. Encouragement. Accountability. Authenticity. Compassion. Resilience. Heart. Love.
Whether you are a mother, father, grandparent, mentor, teacher, coach, manager, or friend—you have the opportunity to shape lives every single day. And perhaps that is one of the greatest accomplishments any leader can achieve.
Happy Mother’s Day to all who lead with care, compassion, strength, and heart.
You Got This. And I have Your Back.
Supporting you in creating the life and career you deserve,
- Ann
