Leadership as a Parallel to Parenting
Leadership is often likened to parenting: a thoughtful balance of responsibility, care, and guidance. Like parents, leaders shape the parameters within which others operate, while nurturing the conditions that allow people to grow and succeed.
Just as parents set boundaries and priorities, leaders define the focus, values, and culture that shape their teams or organisations.
The Biology of an Organisation
What’s often overlooked is the subtle but powerful relationship between leadership and an organisation’s biological system. Every organisation has a unique “biology,” shaped by its history, culture, and embedded processes.
This system influences not only how things operate day to day, but how leaders themselves respond to pressure, change, and responsibility.
The Leader’s Personal History Matters
Much like a parent’s approach is shaped by their own upbringing, a leader’s behaviour is deeply informed by their personal and professional history. Patterns of response—habits, biases, and emotional triggers—are learned over time and embedded into the leader’s own internal biology. These patterns directly impact how they lead.
Organisations Attract the Leaders They Reflect
Organisations tend to draw in leaders whose behavioural patterns align with their existing structure and culture. The values an organisation holds, the challenges it faces, and the history it carries often determine the kind of leadership it seeks and rewards.
Examples in Practice
- Universities often value inquiry and science, so they favour leaders who are rational, research-driven, and data-focused.
- Social service organisations prioritise empathy and relationships, attracting leaders who are emotionally attuned, even if it means structural trade-offs.
- Project-based environments reward action-oriented leaders who can deliver outcomes but may struggle to balance this pace with care for team wellbeing.
