Watch a group of children playing, and you will see many character traits emerge: curiosity, problem solving, questioning, and perseverance. These skills are all applicable in the business setting but sometimes we lose sight of just how important these traits are. How can a business leader learn from children? Here are 7 essential traits that children possess – and business leaders should emulate:
Curiosity:
Children are naturally curious. It is their ‘”job” to ask endless questions, construct and deconstruct toys, and finding out how things work. Far too often, adults make assumptions and take answers for granted. In business, entrepreneurs should constantly be asking and dissecting questions about profits, product interests, best practices, etc. Curiosity is the road to innovation.
Problem Solving:
Kids are sponges for knowledge. They love to soak us as much information as they can and know how to get the answers they need – typically using technology. Today, most information is only a click away. As a business leader, we need to know how to quickly solve problems, no matter how major, using the resources at our disposal.
Using Technology:
How many times have you asked your child to help you import a file into a document or export content from an excel spreadsheet? Children have a natural knack for technology. It is such a part of who they are and why things like programming and learning code comes so easy for them. As technology evolves, children naturally evolve with it.
Questioning:
How many questions do you think a typical three year old asks in one day? Too many to count! By asking questions, children learn how to explain themselves and the complexity of the world they are living in. Entrepreneurs need to learn how to formulate questions to maximize the quality of replies received. Having a knowledge base about your industry can vastly improve the success of your business.
Mentorship:
For the first eighteen years of a child’s life, their most important role models are adults. Children learn from family members, teachers, and leaders in their community. When establishing a business, this mentoring process should continue. Network to find valuable people who can show you the ins and outs of a specific industry, use your family and friends as a sounding board when establishing your business, and join industry-specific mentoring groups. Once you have established yourself and your business, commit to mentoring future generations of entrepreneurs!
Perseverance:
Children don’t have a fear of failing because they have never failed before! Instead of feeling down if something doesn’t work the first time, they pick themselves up and try again. Typically, a business leader may fail numerous times before their first major success. Failure is a strong motivator to seeking success. Armed with a well thought-out
business plan and a strong sense of determination, many entrepreneurs become successful despite initial setbacks.
Have Fun:
Children know how to have fun and rank activities based on enjoyment. They also know how to take a break from time to time. Occasionally, business leaders need to reassess why they started their company in the first place. Take a step back, rethink the how and why you do things, and remember your goals and dreams. Mixing some fun into your daily routine and taking time for yourself and loved ones – including that dream vacation – is vital to business success.
The next time you visit your child’s school or drive by a playground, take a minute and watch how children play and interact. The character traits you see in children can translate directly into the world of a business leader!
