Taking the Lead at Home Without Being a Tyrant

1d ago1 min read

Been thinking a lot about what leadership actually means as a father and husband. I grew up thinking being 'the man of the house' meant making all the decisions and everyone falling in line. But I've learned that real leadership is about knowing when to speak up, when to listen, and when to follow your wife's wisdom because she often sees things I don't. It's about setting an example of integrity so your kids want to follow you, not because they have to. Leadership is understanding that you're responsible for the wellbeing of your family but that doesn't mean you have all the answers. Does anyone else wrestle with this balance?

6 comments124 views

Comments(6)

JJosh M.Regularjust now

Can you break down what you figured out? I'm early in this parenting journey and I want to get the framework right from the start instead of undoing bad habits later.

BBrent M.New Dad1d ago

This hits different. Leadership isn't about making every call, it's about making sure everyone's heard and moving forward together. That's been my biggest lesson coaching little league actually, watching good coaches versus bad ones.

DDerek M.Regular1d ago

Real talk, my dad never had this conversation with himself and it affected everything. The fact that you're thinking about this stuff means you're already ahead of the game. Leadership in a family means bringing people together, not ruling them.

PPaul W.Regular1d ago

I only have one kid but I see so many dads at the games trying to run everything solo. The ones who actually have it figured out are the ones listening to their partners. You're on the right track just by questioning what it means.

LLucasNew Dad21h ago

Real leadership is being the one who listens first and decides second. That's what I'm trying to model for my kids anyway. The tyrant thing is the easy route but it doesn't stick.

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PParkerNew Dad11h ago

This is the conversation I needed to read. Growing up I thought leadership meant being the one who made all the decisions and everyone just listened. I'm trying to be different with my family but it's tricky.