Leadership Quote - Dee Dee Myers

Created by Erin Morey

As we take a break from to prepare for the Super Bowl, I found this quote to be overly appropriate. There are so many conversations about the leadership of the two teams, and what the leaders and coaches of the teams will need to do in order to win. But there are more leaders than just on the football field, and perhaps some of the most important leaders are identified in this quote:

I am endlessly fascinated that playing football is considered a training ground for leadership, but raising children isn't.

 - Dee Dee Myers, Clinton Administration Press Secretary

By default a parent is a leader. When you are parent you automatically have a follower who will learn and grow from you. Many people may not understand the full significance of the role of parent, but to do it well means leadership. The funny thing is that this is also one of (if not THE) the most challegening leadership environments. After all, you are responsible for the entire growth and development of another human being. Perhaps we really should look at parneting as a leadership challenge. Perhaps then it will be given more of the credibility it deserves, especially when done well. 

What are you doing to prepare your team (in this case, kids) for tomorrow?  Are you treating them like the future, or as a nuisance? How are you leading them?

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Dee Dee Myers is a political analyst who served as White House Press Secretary during the Clinton Administration, and the first woman to hold the position. She is also an author (Why Women Should Rule the World, affiliate link) and managing director fo public affairs at the Glover Park Group.