We often think of leadership as something that’s found in boardrooms and executive suites—but that’s a limiting perspective. In truth, examples of great leadership can turn up where you least expect to find them.
Recently my thirteen year old son had taken his love of pecan pie to the next level by learning to make it for himself. As luck would have it, he has access to the best cook and baker in our part of the world—Grandma, who lives just a few miles down the road from us.
My mom, it has to be said, is an amazing person. For as long as I can remember she has been renowned for her cooking and baked goods, and equally renowned for her generosity in sharing them. To this day, I hear stories about her delicious treats from nearly everyone she encounters—her mail carrier, her hairdresser, her neighbors, and the people who help her with yard work.
Not long ago my son spent an afternoon with Grandma working together in her kitchen. It didn’t take long for me to realize that, along with a pie tutorial, Mom—who has never read a leadership textbook or attended a professional development seminar in her life—was demonstrating many key principles that I encourage leaders to develop:
Thorough preparation.
Before she began, she made sure that every ingredient and tool she needed was there and close at hand.
A skills-development approach.
She didn’t perch my son on a chair and say “watch while I do this” but artfully combined talk, demonstration, and hands-on practice. It’s never easy for an expert to watch a novice make his tentative way through a process, but she knew that it was the best way for him to really learn it.
Allow for questions.
Although they stayed focused on the work at hand, all along the way there was plenty of opportunity for questions and discussion. She kept a relaxed pace that fostered learning and minimized stress.
Room for error.
Not only did she act as a safety net for my son’s first efforts, but her lesson included side notes on all the little things that can go wrong (like a hole in the crust) and how to fix them (keep a little dough set aside for repairs).
Encouragement.
At every stage, she was quick to praise good work with a “great job” or “well done.”
How much more could teams accomplish if leaders consistently applied these principles?
My mother’s ability to cook is a talent she’s worked hard to develop and that she enjoys not just for its own sake, but as a way to bring happiness to those around her—and now as something she can hand down to her grandson. The commitment her “team” and generosity of spirit are the foundation of great leadership.
