How Motherhood Made Me a Better Leader

How Becoming a Mother Improved My Leadership Skills

Motherhood changes us in ways we can never fully prepare for. It reshapes how we see the world, how we respond to challenges, and how we find strength in moments we never thought we could handle. As a mom, I’ve been in awe of the way motherhood has revealed parts of myself I never knew existed. But one of the most profound surprises for me has been how deeply the skills I’ve developed as a mom—patience, empathy, resilience—have transformed me as a leader.

Whether it’s managing a team or guiding my children through life’s ups and downs, I’ve learned that these two roles—motherhood and leadership—are intimately connected. I want to share the lessons motherhood has taught me about leadership, not just for working moms like me, but for anyone navigating the delicate balance between career and family. These lessons run deeper than just professional success—they are lessons in love, connection, and showing up as the best version of yourself.

Patience

Patience is one of the greatest gifts motherhood has given me. I remember sitting with my son, who was learning to read. His little fingers traced the words on the page, and with every sound he struggled to pronounce, I could feel his frustration building. In those moments, it would have been easy to take over, to correct him, to rush through it. But I didn’t. I sat there with him, encouraging him to keep going. I watched him stumble, but I also watched him succeed. That’s where patience lives—not in perfection, but in the space we give others to grow.

Motherhood has shown me that true patience isn’t passive; it’s active. It’s about being present in the moment, even when that moment feels endless or difficult. At work, I’ve drawn on this same well of patience when managing high-stress situations. When the stakes are high, and emotions run even higher, I’ve learned to pause, breathe, and give the situation the space it needs to unfold. The ability to remain grounded under pressure has been invaluable—not just to my own peace of mind, but to my team’s ability to trust and follow my leadership.

Patience doesn’t mean waiting for things to be perfect; it means staying steady even when things are messy. Whether I’m comforting a toddler mid-tantrum or leading a team through a business crisis, patience has become the foundation of my leadership.

Empathy

As moms, we develop an innate ability to sense our children’s emotions, sometimes even before they do. I remember one afternoon when my daughter came home from school, and I immediately saw the weight of something heavy in her eyes. She didn’t say a word, but I could feel her pain. I didn’t rush to fix it. I simply sat beside her, letting her know I was there, ready to listen when she was ready to speak. And when she finally did open up, I didn’t offer solutions—I offered understanding.

That same empathy has shaped the way I lead in the workplace. My role as a leader is not just to drive results, but to create an environment where people feel valued and heard. My experience as a mother has taught me that sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do for others is simply to listen—to make space for their emotions, their frustrations, and their fears. When my team feels heard, they feel seen. And when they feel seen, they are empowered to bring their best selves to work.

Empathy is about more than just kindness; it’s about connection. It’s about letting the people around you know that you understand their struggles, that you respect their process, and that you’ll be there to support them, no matter what. At the end of the day, leadership is not just about achieving goals—it’s about building relationships that foster trust and loyalty. Just as I want my children to trust in my love, I want my team to trust in my leadership.

Resilience

There’s a quiet resilience that mothers carry—one that we rarely talk about, but it’s there, just below the surface, holding everything together. It shows up on those sleepless nights, when exhaustion presses in, but you still manage to get up and care for your little ones. It shows up when you’re juggling a million things—work, home, school, meals, deadlines—and you keep going, even when it feels like you’re on the verge of collapse.

For me, resilience is the ability to get back up after being knocked down. It’s the realization that things won’t always go as planned, but you have the strength to adjust and keep moving forward. I’ve had many moments in my career when I felt like I was barely holding on—whether it was a client backing out at the last minute or a deal that fell apart. And in those moments, I turned to the resilience I had built as a mother, knowing that I had faced harder challenges before and come through stronger.

Resilience doesn’t mean never falling—it means learning how to rise. It’s the ability to bend without breaking, to adapt without losing sight of your purpose. I see this resilience in my children, too—every time they get back up after a fall, every time they try again after a failure. And I want them to see it in me. I want them to know that no matter what happens, their mom will always keep going.

Resilience isn’t just about surviving tough moments—it’s about thriving because of them. It’s about knowing that even when the road is difficult, you have the strength to keep moving forward, both in motherhood and in leadership.

The Gifts of Motherhood in Leadership

Motherhood has shaped me in more ways than I can count, but perhaps the greatest gift it has given me is the ability to lead with patience, empathy, and resilience. These qualities have not only made me a better mother, but they’ve also made me a stronger leader.

If you’re a working mom, I want you to know that the skills you’re honing in motherhood are the very same skills that make you an incredible leader. The way you love, the way you care, the way you persevere through the hardest moments—these are your strengths, not just at home, but in the world. You are leading every single day, whether you realize it or not.

Has motherhood transformed your leadership? I’d love to hear your story. Share your thoughts in the comments below, and let’s celebrate the leadership lessons we’ve gained through motherhood. Don’t forget to subscribe to The Balanced MomBoss for more tips and insights on balancing leadership and motherhood.