Young children are full of wonder and have an open mind ready to take in new concepts and ideas — something managers should take to heart. A recent article in Forbes looks at ways to glean management prowess from the mouths of babes. Here are a few of them:
- Demonstrating persistence in the face of obstacles. Children persist until they reach a goal. Not only do young children have tenacity, they also have a hefty measure of grit — a quality required for the demands of a growing business. Think about it: Fitting your entrepreneurial plans into a form where they can be applied in a real-world situation is anything but easy. At times one must stay the course. At other times the stress that comes with trying to handle the demands of a growing business builds character and builds it fast!
- The power of saying “no.” Young ones must learn to heed the power of “No.” Any parent worth his or her mettle knows that success often hinges on that two-letter word all parents must use so as to focus on what is most important. Saying no preserves capital, reins in ebullient emotions and tempers the tendency to be a bit myopic when running a demanding enterprise.
- Know the power of reciprocity. Productive relationships are the foundation of a prosperous enterprise, and at the core of those relationships is the power of reciprocity. No one endures the blood, sweat and tears of launching a successful business without the necessity of tempering dreams and then shaping them to fit into the real world.
- Coddling can kill a nascent enterprise. An entrepreneur must go through the tough times to emerge as a strong manager with the fortitude to make those tough decisions. It’s a lesson an entrepreneur must take to heart regardless of whether it’s an expansive time or one of economic retraction.