 |
 |
|
|
|
Can A Woman Be The Man of The House?
Mercer Island, WA
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Video Clip: Click to Watch
It was the early 60's. JFK was president father knew best.
I, as a young girl, answered the stylish princess rotary telephone. The caller said, "May I speak with the man of the house?"
This was code. This early day telemarketer wanted to speak with the person who made the family's buying decisions.
Every family has a leader. Sometimes it's a man, sometimes it's a woman and sometimes it's the toddler.
As with elected officials, some leaders are more effective than others. And some leadership styles work better than others.
The most striking leadership style difference generally falls along gender lines, and here's how I think of the difference.
When I was a surgeon, I had side-by-side exam rooms. When my son was born, I converted one of the exam rooms to a nursery. One day, while standing in the hall, I had a light bulb moment: it was as if I were two different people walking through these two doors.
When I went into the exam room on the left, I had a mission focus; I was there to arrive at a diagnosis and create a treatment plan. I was there to do something to cure my patients. I had a doing mindset.
When I went into the nursery to see my son, my job was to connect with him. I had a being mindset.
In general, men lead from a doing mindset and women lead from a being mindset.
The major strength of someone leading from a doing mindset is the clarity that allows them to make choices that align with the family's core values and beliefs. They make unpopular choices– like taking away the car keys from an unruly teenager or an aging parent with failing vision–knowing that the long-term gain outweighs the short term pain.
The major strength of someone leading from the being mindset is the ability to make its members feel valued, included and loved. They create a family where each member belongs.
An effective family leader knows how to balance the being and doing mindsets.
A leader who embraces one mindset to the exclusion of the other is like a car that will only make right or left turns. You can get to where you want to go, but it it's the long, dangerous way.
A divorcing woman leading from a being mindset wants to positively connect with her kids. However, when she buys her kids things instead of saying no is not moving towards her bigger parenting goal of raising successful adults who are gracious when they don't get exactly what they want exactly when they want it.
The eldest son concerned about his aging parents' safety who springs into decisive independent action should not be surprised if his siblings and his parents are angry about his failure to consult with them.
Successful family leaders know when to lead from the being mindset and when to lead from the doing mindset. The fix-connect spectrum has a point of balance. The wise leader of either gender knows when it's time for doing and when it's time for being.
Want more information about family leadership? Click here to get your free special report "Can Women Be Good Family Leaders?"
Dr. Rackner will be delivering the keynote address "The Head of House is WHO?" at the upcoming Divorcing Divas Event "Happily Ever After" on September 25, 2010 in Mpls MN. Click here for more information about the event and access to special reports that help women get back on their feet after divorce.
I, as a young girl, answered the stylish princess rotary telephone. The caller said, "May I speak with the man of the house?"
This was code. This early day telemarketer wanted to speak with the person who made the family's buying decisions.
Every family has a leader. Sometimes it's a man, sometimes it's a woman and sometimes it's the toddler.
As with elected officials, some leaders are more effective than others. And some leadership styles work better than others.
The most striking leadership style difference generally falls along gender lines, and here's how I think of the difference.
When I was a surgeon, I had side-by-side exam rooms. When my son was born, I converted one of the exam rooms to a nursery. One day, while standing in the hall, I had a light bulb moment: it was as if I were two different people walking through these two doors.
When I went into the exam room on the left, I had a mission focus; I was there to arrive at a diagnosis and create a treatment plan. I was there to do something to cure my patients. I had a doing mindset.
When I went into the nursery to see my son, my job was to connect with him. I had a being mindset.
In general, men lead from a doing mindset and women lead from a being mindset.
The major strength of someone leading from a doing mindset is the clarity that allows them to make choices that align with the family's core values and beliefs. They make unpopular choices– like taking away the car keys from an unruly teenager or an aging parent with failing vision–knowing that the long-term gain outweighs the short term pain.
The major strength of someone leading from the being mindset is the ability to make its members feel valued, included and loved. They create a family where each member belongs.
An effective family leader knows how to balance the being and doing mindsets.
A leader who embraces one mindset to the exclusion of the other is like a car that will only make right or left turns. You can get to where you want to go, but it it's the long, dangerous way.
A divorcing woman leading from a being mindset wants to positively connect with her kids. However, when she buys her kids things instead of saying no is not moving towards her bigger parenting goal of raising successful adults who are gracious when they don't get exactly what they want exactly when they want it.
The eldest son concerned about his aging parents' safety who springs into decisive independent action should not be surprised if his siblings and his parents are angry about his failure to consult with them.
Successful family leaders know when to lead from the being mindset and when to lead from the doing mindset. The fix-connect spectrum has a point of balance. The wise leader of either gender knows when it's time for doing and when it's time for being.
Want more information about family leadership? Click here to get your free special report "Can Women Be Good Family Leaders?"
Dr. Rackner will be delivering the keynote address "The Head of House is WHO?" at the upcoming Divorcing Divas Event "Happily Ever After" on September 25, 2010 in Mpls MN. Click here for more information about the event and access to special reports that help women get back on their feet after divorce.
Vicki Rackner MD FACS
caregiving Expert, Author and Speaker
Mercer Island, WA
425-451-3777
