Kids (And Employees) Know More Than You Think with Dr. Becky Kennedy
Jan 28, 2025
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Dr. Becky Kennedy, a clinical psychologist and founder of Good Inside, specializes in practical parenting and leadership advice. She discusses how parenting can enhance leadership skills through emotional resilience and open communication. Dr. Kennedy emphasizes the importance of establishing boundaries and understanding emotional triggers for effective relationships. She also shares insights on the challenges of long-term relationship building versus immediate tasks, highlighting the need for authenticity and vulnerability in both personal and professional lives.
Understanding children's perceptions and providing truthful information enhances their emotional security and builds trust between parents and kids.
Shifting the focus from blame to skill development fosters a supportive environment that encourages growth for both children and leaders.
Deep dives
The Power of Intention in Parenting
Intention plays a crucial role in how we interact with children, emphasizing that they often perceive our intentions more than our actions. A parent should reflect on whether their response aims to support and teach or merely to express personal frustrations, which can result in emotional damage. This highlights the need for parents to be aware of their motivations in high-stress situations, like meltdowns or crises, and to choose communication that fosters understanding and safety. Creating an environment where children feel secure requires acknowledging their perceptions and providing them with clear, honest narratives about their experiences.
Addressing Children's Fears with Transparency
When children encounter distressing events, such as natural disasters, parents must provide truthful and straightforward information rather than masking the situation with false reassurances. Children are highly perceptive and can sense when something is wrong, leading to anxiety if they are not informed about changes in their environment. A useful approach is for parents to directly address what the child is noticing, validate their feelings, and share the facts of the situation to demystify their fears. This practice not only helps children manage their anxiety but also reinforces trust between parent and child, reinforcing the idea that they can rely on their parents for accurate information.
The Importance of Sturdy Leadership
Both parenting and leadership require the ability to observe and respond to the needs of those in one’s care. Effective leaders, whether in a family or workplace, must create an environment that encourages growth and confidence by acknowledging emotions and providing constructive feedback. By adopting a sturdy leadership approach, parents and leaders alike can set appropriate boundaries, offer guidance, and actively involve their children or team members in problem-solving. This approach fosters resilient individuals who can learn from their mistakes and feel supported, ultimately contributing to the overall success and well-being of the family or organization.
Navigating Fault and Responsibility
The conversation around fault in behavior often tends to shift blame rather than encourage growth and understanding. Rather than framing issues by identifying fault, it is more productive to recognize that negative behavior often stems from a lack of skills rather than bad intentions. Shifting the narrative from blame to skill development allows both adults and children to focus on solutions and fosters an environment conducive to learning. Understanding that mistakes are part of the process and not assigning blame can lead to healthier responses and deeper connections among family members, friends, and colleagues.
Parenting is the hardest job in the world—and it turns out, it’s also one of the best training grounds for leadership.
Dr. Becky Kennedy, aka the “Millennial Parent Whisperer,” became an essential voice for caretakers by offering practical, actionable parenting advice that resonated with millions during the pandemic. As a clinical psychologist and founder of Good Inside, she’s now helping parents build sturdy leadership skills that not only transform their homes but also their work lives.
In this conversation, Dr. Becky shares how understanding boundaries, emotional triggers, and big feelings can help us become more effective leaders. Whether you’re a parent or a manager (or both!), her insights will help you lead with more intention, connection, and confidence.