Are You A Leader, Or A Parent?

Posted on June 10, 2009 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.

Some leaders can fall into the trap of assuming the posture of a “parent” over some of their followers.

When a leader assumes this posture, they start to believe they are responsible to care for certain individuals who seem limited in their own ability to care for themselves. Such a leader will often step in by providing strong (or parental) “guidance” and control, where they seek to keep that person safe and protected.

Since “father always knows best”, this “parental” leadership style will eventually enable those followers to assume the unhealthy role of being a surrogate “child” of a leader - where they end up having an unhealthy reliance on their leader, resulting in a lack of personal motivation, initiative, and accountability.

As leaders, we need to see people as being independent, capable, skilled with the need to take initiative in their own job (and life). As leaders it’s our role to create an environment that unlocks their potential, and then empowers and enables them to act. As Abraham Lincoln said “You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.”

** The highest calling of a leader is the development and empowerment of others in ways that allow their followers to reach their highest potential. Developing followers into independent and highly competent leaders themselves.