Ep. 137: Parents Who Lead

<p><a href= "https://sunshine-parenting.com/ep-137-parents-who-lead/" target= "_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Show notes & links.</a></p> <p>In this episode, Audry is joined by Alyssa Westring, co-author of <a href="http://www.parentswholead.net/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener noreferrer">Parents Who Lead: <em>The Leadership Approach You Need to Parent with Purpose, Fuel Your Career, and Create a Richer Life</em></a>. Alyssa is an associate professor of management at the Driehaus College of Business, DePaul University, and has studied organizational psychology, particularly work-life integration.</p> <p>Parenting life isn't easy and many people feel guilty, stressed, and on autopilot, instead of being present with their families at the end of a busy workday. It <em>is</em> possible for parents to harness the powerful science of leadership in order to thrive in all aspects of their lives.</p> <h2>Big Ideas</h2> <p><a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Parents-Who-Lead-Leadership-Approach/dp/1633696502" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Parents Who Lead</strong></a> was co-authored with Stuart Friedman, who wrote <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Total-Leadership-Better-Leader-Richer/dp/1422103285" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Total Leadership</strong></a>. Westring and Friedman took the leadership principles that were more individual-focused and applied them, along with some new research, to parenting.</p> <p>They look at what it means to be a total leader and a leader in all parts of life. Parents can be just as intentional about seeking purpose in parenting as they are about seeking fulfillment in their careers. For the past 3 years, she has focused on working parents and discovering ways they can parent more effectively and thrive in their careers and personal lives.</p> <p>Her research asks:</p> <ul> <li>How do we help people make better choices about balancing work and family?</li> <li>How do we help organizations make better policies?</li> <li>How do we influence these thin