Becoming a parent is like an advanced leadership course—except your direct report throws food and ignores basic instructions! It is an incredible time, and surprisingly, ChatGPT tells me that the skills we’re developing at home will be useful in the workplace:

Time management becomes second nature when you can pack a nappy bag, make a snack, and stop a meltdown in under three minutes.
Crisis management? If you’ve handled a toddler’s public tantrum with nothing but a soothing voice and a well-timed distraction, workplace emergencies feel easy.
Negotiation skills also get a major upgrade—convincing a three-year-old to wear pants is harder than any client deal.
Public Speaking Under Pressure. If you’ve ever had to come up with a bedtime story on the spot that includes a dinosaur, a princess, and a talking garbage truck, you can absolutely deliver a last-minute presentation with confidence.
Adaptability is built-in. When a toddler suddenly decides their favourite meal is now disgusting, you learn to pivot quickly—just like in business when plans (inevitably) change.
Resilience (a.k.a. Functioning on No Sleep) grows.

Parenthood is training us well to expertly diffuse office drama or handle a chaotic meeting with ease! I have to say, I think I’ll look forward to going back to work for a rest.