Transitioning into a CEO at home involves adopting a leadership mindset, making decisions, and managing daily life effectively. This parallels the role of a CEO in the workplace, but parenting comes with its unique challenges. In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, managing a household and a career, often with children, adds complexity, particularly for the 85% of women over 40.

Investing time in fostering cooperation within the household is crucial for progress and harmony. Without cooperation, daily tasks become overwhelming, leading to inefficiency and stress. A cohesive family working together creates a supportive environment where responsibilities are shared, fostering effective communication, problem-solving, and a sense of shared purpose. This collaborative mindset not only streamlines daily routines but also imparts valuable interpersonal skills, preparing individuals for success in various aspects of life.

The daily tasks of ensuring everyone’s needs are met become the fixed points around which everything else revolves. While the temptation to maintain efficiency persists, fostering independence in children and transferring responsibilities to them is not always straightforward. Parents often feel distracted and busy, making it challenging to avoid an all-or-nothing approach.

One powerful skill to encourage cooperation and build teamwork is the DIY (Describe, Information, You) process:

• Describe the Problem: Depersonalize the issue by stating the facts from an adult perspective, setting the tone for connection. For example: “Hmmm…there are two kids and one scooter.” Removing emotion from the equation allows everyone to objectively look at the issue.
• Give Information: Set expectations and introduce family rules, preparing children for what is expected without assigning blame. For instance, “It’s fair when everyone gets a turn.” Clearly state your baseline expectations without pointing fingers or assigning blame. This step prepares children for what you would like them to do, fostering a sense of responsibility.
• Ask What You Can Do: Empower children by asking, “What could you do?”. Providing them with an opportunity to be problem-solvers helps build a sense of control and capability. This step is crucial for their learning experience, allowing them to develop skills that contribute to teamwork and a self-perception as capable problem-solvers.

Teaching life skills, such as organizing belongings, is another aspect of empowering children. Instilling a routine for organizing school bags, for instance, equips them with valuable organizational skills beyond academics. Describe the importance of a well-organized bag, provide information on expectations, and ask them what they can do to keep it organized. This instills responsibility and ownership in managing their belongings, laying the foundation for a more organized and responsible approach to future challenges.

In the journey of parenting, we play a role similar to a CEO, aiming to make our home environment thrive and render ourselves redundant. Success at home, like in the office, relies on the people around us.

If you’re interested in learning more about how Justine helps her clients become CEOs at home, feel free to reach out via email at Justine@gtgparenting.co.nz.