Being a Resource

By Mike Monahan, CEO and executive director of Life Success Seminars Inc.

One of the many roles of a leader is to be a resource to others. But I think that leaders often confuse the difference between being a resource and telling others what to do. Leaders frequently learn from mistakes they've made and want to give advice on how to avoid these pitfalls.

Raising children seems to be where this advice trap shows up the most. Most parents want to teach their teenager how to act like a 40-year-old. I hate to tell you this, but if you're giving advice to your kids--rather than being a resource--you're doing the same thing at work and with your friends.

You'll know when you're on your way to great leadership when you're helping your teenager (or your friend or your co-worker) with what's important to them--not with what's important to you.

They say it costs $250,000 to raise a child, so if you have four kids, that's a million-dollar leadership program. I sure hope that you're learning your part!