Like parenting, managing is tough but brings great rewards

by Dan Oswald

It’s often said that being a parent is the world’s toughest job. Not all of us are parents, but most of us can appreciate what a difficult job parenting is. I found it fascinating that Boston-based advertising agency Mullen created an ad for a nonexistent director of operations position. The requirements included:

• A 135-plus-hour workweek;
• Work most of the time standing up;
• Unlimited patience;
• High level of stamina;
• Work in a chaotic environment;
• Excellent negotiation and interpersonal skills;
• Degrees in medicine, finance, and culinary arts;
• No paid holidays; and
• No salary

The online ad received 2.7 million impressions (in the context of online advertising, an “impression” is when someone views an ad from its source), but only 24 people applied. It makes you wonder what those 24 were thinking! But Mullen didn’t stop there—it actually went ahead and held video interviews with some of the applicants. The four minutes of video that resulted from the interviews can be seen here.

The “director of operations” position was really an ad for the job of being a mom. When you think of what good parents do—what they sacrifice for their children—and relate it to any other job, you can see why it’s considered the world’s toughest job.

But there’s something more that makes parenting tough—the emotional investment that most parents make in their children. Sure, all the elements listed in the fake ad are part of being a parent, but I think it’s the emotional part that can be even more difficult. Most parents want to see their children happy. Most parents want to see their children succeed. It’s that emotional element that can be even more taxing than other duties of being a parent.

That got me thinking about how parenting is like managing people. I think there are many similarities between the two. If you are a parent, much of what you have learned from parenting can make you a better manager and vice versa. The commitment, responsibility, and effort to be the best parent aren’t dissimilar from what it takes to be a great manager. Good parents and good managers:

1. Encourage. There are no bigger cheerleaders than good parents and good managers. They consistently encourage, motivate, and celebrate with every success.
2. Discipline. It’s not always fun, but it needs to be done. At times, a tough conversation or consequences for actions are necessary to get someone back on track.
3. Identify strengths. When a parent or a manager can honestly determine what others’ greatest strengths are, they can then help them maximize their potential by playing to those strengths.
4. Understand weaknesses. No one is perfect. Understanding others’ weaknesses and helping them do the same so they aren’t held back by their deficiencies are critical to their success.
5. Solve problems. Both parents and managers are there to help those in their charge solve difficult problems. It doesn’t mean coming up with the solution—it means giving them the tools to do it themselves.
6. Teach. Ultimately, the best parents and best managers are great teachers. They are able to help others achieve by teaching them how to think critically and providing them with the knowledge to be successful.

Good parents and good managers are emotionally invested in those for whom they’re responsible. They care deeply about the people they are charged with and want what is absolutely best for them. Being a parent may be the world’s toughest job, but being a manager is no walk in the park, either. And both jobs can be extremely rewarding. If you do them well, seeing the positives that result from the effort is incredibly satisfying. And while there is no pay for being a parent, at least you get paid for being a manager!