Why Parenting Is the Most Important Leadership Role You'll Ever Have
It might feel strange to think of parenting as a leadership role... but from a human and evolutionary perspective, that’s exactly what it is.
Let’s break it down:
A leader is someone who...
Has followers
Can translate vision into reality
Empowers others
Influences through presence, not force
Now let’s look at a parent...
Has followers (your children)
Can hold and shape a vision for your family
Empowers their child to grow with confidence
Influences their child’s inner world through everyday interactions
The overlap is clear. Parenting is leadership.
And yet, while corporate leaders are supported with training, development programs, performance reviews, and defined leadership styles...
Most parents are left to wing it.
We try to find our rhythm amidst the chaos. We do our best. But sometimes what “works” isn’t what’s truly aligned with what’s best — for us or our children.
And it’s no wonder.
Modern working parents are overwhelmed.
We’re pulled in a thousand directions, managing careers, households, and emotional labour with little rest or recognition.
In many homes, both parents need to work simply to meet the cost of living. This means long hours away, and the creeping feeling that work gets the best of us, while family gets the rest.
It can feel like working and parenting are always at odds.
But here’s where we can learn from the best leaders — the ones who stay grounded, connected, and influential under pressure.
The most impactful leaders are not the loudest.
They’re not the most polished or the most productive.
They are the ones who have cultivated authenticity.
They know who they are.
They lead with purpose, presence, and care.
And that’s what our children need from us too.
What I’ve seen again and again — in my own parenting and in the families I support — is this:
Parenting becomes more fulfilling, and more effective, when we see it as a conscious leadership role.
When we know our parenting style, our strengths, and our blind spots, we can lead with greater self-trust... and model that for our children too.
Because one day, they will grow into leaders in their own lives. And they’ll look to us — not just for answers, but for example.
Curious about your parenting leadership style? Take the free quiz to discover your unique strengths and blind spots — and how to use them to build a more connected, empowered family life.
