What Leaders Can Learn from a Kindergarten Teacher’s Playbook

As leaders we have a huge responsibility to those that we lead, and not just for their work. We are responsible for their physical and psychological well-being, and increasingly we are responsible for the whole health and wellness of our team members.

Much of our team members’ engagement (or lack thereof) comes from our ability to bring values to life and to create a purpose or ‘cause’ that attracts talent and motivates and retains that talent.

Oh, and then there is COVID (that seemingly doesn’t have an end point), plus a worldwide supply chain disruption, as well as higher demands and expectations from customers.

So, how is it then that we cope when all things are considered?  My answer…

Take a Page from a Kindergarten Teacher’s Playbook!

Kindergarten teachers have a long list of things that they could teach leaders from the C-Suite to the warehouse.  Here is just a short sample from their playbook…

1. Dare I Say… Narcissism.  Kindergarten teachers are masterful at dealing with five- and six-year-old children that have brains which have not fully developed the ability to process situations that are not ‘all about them.’  As we get older, we are taught that narcissism is not socially acceptable.  Unfortunately however, some adults do not grow out of this stage, or they become really good at disguising it.  How do kindergarten teachers deal with it?  They recognize the egos – albeit little egos – and make them feel important, appreciated and valued.
2. Purpose.   Kindergarten teachers always start with WHY.  Whenever they ask their students to do something – be it clean up the toys on the floor or nap time – they always explain the ‘why’ before they explain the ‘what’.  As leaders, we often forget to start with why.
3. Recognize the Small Wins.  Kindergarten teachers are brilliant at recognizing the little victories along the way.  Leaders too often focus on the end prize and fail to recognize the team’s little victories along the way toward the big goal.  Celebrating the milestone achievements is what keeps the team moving toward the target.

There is a lot more that kindergarten teachers can teach us in the world of leadership.  The three above are just a little list that we can start working on. Kindergarten teachers also focus on the top priorities in the journey.

Robert Murray is a Vancouver, BC based Business Strategy Consultant, #1 Best Selling Author, International Keynote Speaker, and TEC Top Speaker of the Year for 2018. For further advice, insight and inspiration on how to unlock your inner leader, connect with Robert on LinkedIn.

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