Comments on: Leadership Lessons from Children

By: Mary Jo Asmus, President, Aspire Collaborative Services LLC

Mary Jo Asmus, President, Aspire Collaborative Services LLC — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:31:34 +0000

Brittany, thanks for your confirmation. When I think about it, I actually believe that most adults know what to do. Actually doing it is the hard part.

Kyle,it is my theory that "bad leaders" don't deserve the title of "leader". Maybe we should call them something else?

By: Kyle Zive

Kyle Zive — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:15:02 +0000

Very cool post. Children tend to say like it is, as they see it. It is usually really honest and true. Yes. I think good leaders understand how to treat others. When to push people and when to praise people. I have never seen a good leader belittle people. On the flip side I have seen bad leaders make people despise working for them.

By: Brittany Moore

Brittany Moore — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:32:42 +0000

Mary Jo-
I think sometimes adults do forget what they learned as children; they get so wrapped up in whatever they are doing and don't consider the impact it can have on someone else.

By: Mary Jo Asmus, President, Aspire Collaborative Services LLC

Mary Jo Asmus, President, Aspire Collaborative Services LLC — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:56:35 +0000

Sharon, interesting observation about the unkind boss. I wonder if you have an idea about what might have made him act so differently in different situations?

Brittany, I wonder if adults forget the lessons they learned as children?

By: Brittany Moore

Brittany Moore — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:50:55 +0000

This is so eye-opening. I think it's so amazing that young children understand this, and some adults never even think about this. The craziest thing is that if everyone was kind to others I feel like other leadership characterstics would follow; it can be a major stepping stone to becoming a successful leader.

By: Sharon Markovsky

Sharon Markovsky — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:54:25 +0000

Mary Jo,
This post truly demonstrates the old saying “I learned everything I needed to know in Kindergarten”! Having worked for fortune 100 companies and employee-owned companies, it has been truly shocking to me to see managers/directors/VPs forget what they learned about kindness as it relates to the work place and their employees. I had a boss when I worked for the “Snoopy” insurance company that was a near Jekyll and Hyde when it came to kindness at work (versus personal life). Specifically, on a few rare occasions, this boss would bring is young son into work. The amount of kindness (and patience) he showed that boy seemed boundless. Now, when it came to us (mostly young, inexperienced market researchers), the same kindness and patience did not seem to apply. I remember, years later, describing this boss to someone as the following: “he was a horrible boss, you never knew if your mistake was going to be a mountain or a molehill. But, seeing him with his son, it was clear to me that he was in fact human and, maybe, even a nice guy.”
Thanks again for the post and the reminder!

By: Mary Jo Asmus, President, Aspire Collaborative Services LLC

Mary Jo Asmus, President, Aspire Collaborative Services LLC — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:38:29 +0000

Becky, Alexis, Perry and Tanveer-

Thanks for your beautiful words and additions.

By: Tanveer Naseer

Tanveer Naseer — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:09:54 +0000

Mary Jo,

I agree that there is so much that we can learn from children about how we should treat others. The wonderful thing about children is that they see through all the nonsense adults use to blur an issue and simply call us on things.

It's why in Hans Christian Andersen's story "The Emperor's New Clothes", it's a child who points out the obvious since the audience can very easily see that declaration coming from a child.

From that vantage point, who better to keep us on track than children, who'll gladly tell us when we're hiding behind nothing more than our own misconceptions.

By: perrymaughmer

perrymaughmer — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:47:13 +0000

The most ironic thing about this is that even though we are "adults", the reasons we normally have for saying hurtful things to others are the same as when we were kids. To make ourselves feel powerful when we feel threatened. It is normally the last weapon we have but we will use it when we feel threatened.
We spend so much time teaching kids the "sticks & stones" adage but words do hurt and it is a hurt that is difficult to take back.

By: Alexis Wingate

Alexis Wingate — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:11:35 +0000

Mary Jo, it's so true that we can learn from children. They have not become so negative that they can't still see the positive. That's something that we as adults–and role models–need to remember! Briana showed a great deal of wisdom for one so young. Thanks for your excellent post. Hope you'll visit my blog and take a look at my motivational newsletter!

Blessings,
Alexis
http://successdiva.wordpress.com/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/successdiva/