Renowned American poet Marion C. Garretty once said: “A mother’s love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible, and the skills she hones in raising her children are the very foundation of great leadership.”

This quote highlights how the nurturing, resilient and decision-making abilities developed through motherhood translate directly into effective leadership qualities in the professional sphere.

Whether you’re a working mother, an entrepreneur, a CEO or a Stay At Home Mom (SAHM), motherhood can be a source of personal growth, adaptation and the development of skills that can be applied to leadership roles in the professional world. In fact, research suggests[1] that working mothers develop skills through their parenting experiences that can make them excellent leaders in the workplace.

Here are 12 crucial leadership skills that mothers develop through parenting that can lead to professional success.

1: Crises Management

Consider the accidental scraped knee, the fever spiking at midnight, the sudden meltdown over a lost toy or the last-minute school project that was due tomorrow ─ every mother has had their fair share of chaos on the home front while handling every curve ball she’s been thrown in a calm and collected manner. This aptitude of being able to handle crises efficiently no matter how big or small transfers seamlessly into the business world. Effective crisis management is crucial to any organisation’s survival. Leaders who mirror a mother’s quick thinking and solution-oriented approach during a crisis in the office are a precious asset to their teams.

2: Decision Making

Whether it’s the food, beverage, clothes, education, screen time and so on, mothers find themselves having to make decisions every day. Considering that each decision she makes affects the child’s well-being and development makes it even more crucial that she makes the right decision.

Decision-making is a key leadership lesson learnt from motherhood as mothers frequently have to make quick, sometimes complex decisions under pressure while managing various aspects of family life. In the business context, good leaders are required to make many business decisions, influencing their operational teams, company direction and the wellbeing of many people.

3: Time Management

A mother’s day is often a whirlwind of tasks ─ from deadlines and meetings at work to home management to childcare to self-care. Balancing all these demands in only so many hours in a day requires moms to become masters of prioritization and time management. They quickly learn that every minute counts and they must allocate their resources wisely to ensure that essential tasks are completed efficiently. When leading others, the ability to prioritize and manage time efficiently is critical to the smooth running of teams and projects in the company.

4: Patience

Patience is a virtue that moms invented. Whether it’s helping their children put on the right shoe on the right foot for the umpteenth time or teaching them how to spell “cat” over and over again, moms exemplify patience. In the office, leaders who don’t fly off the handle but who can stay calm under pressure can navigate challenging situations more effectively. Patient leadership can boost employee morale, enhance communication and increase efficiency.

5: Adaptability and Flexibility

Mothers are constantly juggling multiple tasks and priorities, requiring them to be flexible and adjust their plans accordingly. Whether it’s a situation at home, a last-minute change of plans or adjusting to their children’s changing needs as they grow, mothers need to adapt frequently. The strategies used for a one-year-old are not the same as when they reach three years old. Mothers are ready to pivot with grace and are able to adjust their strategies and approaches to accommodate the changes that everyday life brings. These skills at being able to adapt and be flexible are qualities that are essential for leaders who need to navigate the volatility and uncertainty of today’s business world.

6: Problem Solving

Whether its convincing a picky eater to eat his broccoli, resolving sibling squabbles or fixing a household issue, problem-solving is second nature to mom. Mom’s life is an unending series of problems to solve or restructure in a positive way. In the professional world, this quick and efficient problem-solving skill is paramount in running a company. Like a mother who has perfected the skill of when to step in to help her child problem-solve or how to provide him or her with the tools to do it themselves, an excellent leader even guides the team to solve their own problems, uplifting their own ability to grow.

7: Strategic Thinking

Moms are effective strategists. As managing a household often involves planning meals, schedules and activities, moms are always planning ahead, assessing needs, and finding solutions to potential problems while developing contingency plans in case their best-case scenarios fail. When mom goes out with their child, for example, she will pack diapers, bips, flask, water bottle, wet wipes, hand sanitizer, snacks, food, toys, an extra change of clothes, towels, crayons, books, and many other items. If you ask her why she packs so much, she will most likely say ─ “It’s better to be over prepared.” This sense of preparation and thinking ahead comes naturally to moms and the skill can translate to the workplace. Leaders ensure their teams have enough resources to meet their goals while remaining vigilant about potential challenges and preparing accordingly.

8: Long Term Planning

Mothers are all about setting goals and ensuring the family stays on track. Whether it’s planning for their children’s college education, insurance, a family vacation or taking the next step in their career, mothers possess a clear vision for the future and take the steps towards reaching their goal. Likewise, leaders with their company’s vision and mission, have clear goals for the future and drive their organisations towards their company’s long-term success.

9: Multitasking

Mothers wear many hats. They are often the household manager, the driver, the teacher, the cook and cleaner while also juggling childcare and work commitments. These tasks require prioritizing and effective management of different demands at the same time. This ability to multitask developed through motherhood can be considered a valuable leadership attribute as it reflects the skill of managing multiple priorities and responsibilities which are crucial for effective leadership in a professional setting.

10: Empathy

Empathy[2] is defined as the ability to sense other people’s emotions coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling at a given moment in time. Often described as “your pain in my heart”, empathy is an essential trait in leadership as it allows for better connection and motivation among team members. Leaders who can relate with their team on a personal level inspire loyalty and create a great team vibe.

With motherhood necessitating the ability to read, understand, manage and respond to the emotions of everybody in the family, empathy naturally develops in moms. Moms just know exactly what their children are feeling and know how to address these feelings. It’s a skill that can be applied to all situations in life, not just at home and in the office.

11: Lead by Example

Parents know that their children often learn by observing their family members, especially their mother. Moms know that they are being watched and that her actions and behaviours directly shape how her child develops. She knows she is essentially acting as a role model who sets the standard for her child’s behaviour through her everyday choices and conduct. Likewise in the workplace, leaders who lead by example foster increased trust, loyalty and employee engagement when they demonstrate desired behaviours, set high standards and inspire others to follow suit. At the workplace, through their consistent practice of authenticity and integrity, mothers enhance their effectiveness in leading teams.

12: Having Tough Conversations

All moms have had situations where she has had to say no to their child for the sake of health or safety reasons. It might not have been a pleasant conversation but she has had to make those tough choices or decisions for the child’s own good. Saying no or having difficult conversations in the workplace is equally unpleasant but it’s an important skill to have for any leader. Having honed that skill as a working mom makes her confident in having those tough conversations that businesses sometimes have to make.

Morinaga Chil-kid

Mothers are skilled at making decisions for their children especially when it comes to nutrition and what’s best for them. When deciding on which growing up milk to buy for your child, consider the one that provides all-round, carefully balanced nutrition that fulfils their daily Recommended Nutrition Intake (RNI) when complemented with meals.

Morinaga Chil-kid is enriched with more than 45 essential nutrients vital for children’s growth journey. Containing ARA+DHA, Inositol, Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), 5 Nucleotides, Omega 3&6 Long Chain Polyunsaturates (LCPs), and 21 vitamins and minerals including zinc, the protein-packed milk is sufficient in satisfying the nutritional needs of fast-growing children.

Made specifically for Asian children aged one to seven years old, the new and improved Morinaga Chil-kid is formulated completely free of sucrose. The milk takes the guesswork out for mothers who wonder if they are providing their children balanced and comprehensive nutritional support for their overall growth and development.

Morinaga Chil-kid dissolves easily in lukewarm water and has a mild vanilla taste. It is formulated in Japan and is wholly produced in the Netherlands where it goes through rigorous European Union (EU) quality control and a double-inspection process in Japan before it is exported to Malaysia.

[1]Modern Family Index shows real motherhood penalty in American workplace | Bright Horizons Family Solutions. (n.d.). Bright Horizons Family Solutions. https://investors.brighthorizons.com/news-releases/news-release-details/modern-family-index-shows-real-motherhood-penalty-american
[2Empathy Definition | What is empathy. (n.d.). Greater Good. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/empathy/definition