Want to be a Better Boss? Play with Your Kids

 It may be hard to believe, in these hours when we're yelling at our kids to do their homework, stop fighting with each other and get out from underfoot while they're "hybrid" learning.  But a new study has found that, if you can interact peaceably with your kids, it may make you a better boss.

According to newswise.com, new research from the University of Georgia found that "positive interactions with your child during your off hours can make you a better leader." The study examined two samples of 46 and 113 managers, measuring whether participants had experienced positive interactions with their families—such as working together on a project or laughing together, each day after work. The study also looked at whether participants felt connected to their family and satisfied with their family life in general.

"The researchers also analyzed leadership practices, asking participants how often they engaged in behaviors such as making sure employees know expectations and helping subordinates strengthen their skill sets," the web site reports. The results, after 10 days, showed links between positive family interactions after hours and more effective leadership during the workday.

“I think we focus so much on the negative things about work-family balance or the demands of a family—people need to meet these family demands, so that’s why sometimes they couldn’t perform well at work,” newswise quotes Szu Han “Joanna” Lin, lead author of the study and an assistant professor in UGA’s Terry College of Business. “But one thing I think is important to know is that leaders could be more effective because of their family life.”

For years we've known how leadership that focuses on how family life can negatively impact a person’s career. When I worked at IBM, no women executives had children, and few were married.

Lin wanted to examine how positive interactions with family could specifically influence leadership behaviors like showing consideration, marked by things like providing assistance and showing concern for employees, and more change-oriented behaviors, such as helping employees develop their strengths and showing enthusiasm about what needs to be accomplished on a specific workday, the web site explains.

Transformational leadership, which focuses on creating a vision and how teams can work together to achieve it, is considered one of the most effective styles of leadership, Lin notes. Through her research, Lin found a connection between showing more of those transformational tendencies and having had a positive family interaction as a parent the day before.

“You take your kids out for a walk. You chat about how your day was. These are positive family events that help you feel  connected with your kids,” Lin said. “Your needs are satisfied at home. And on the next day, you’ll be more motivated to help your employees.”

Who knew?


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