1: Getting better at getting better is what RiseWithDrew is all about.
Monday through Thursday, we explore ideas from authors, thought leaders, and exemplary organizations. On Friday, I share something about myself or what we are working on at PCI.
This week, we’ve been exploring the twelve tactics for building psychological safety outlined by Daniel Coyle in his terrific book The Culture Code.
He is writing about our professional lives, but it is interesting to consider how these ideas can be applied to parenting.
Here’s Daniel’s list:
- Tactic one: Spotlight our Fallibility Early On
- Tactic two: Capitalize on Threshold Moments
- Tactic three: Avoid Giving Sandwich Feedback
- Tactic four: Preview Future Connection
- Tactic five: Overcommunicate our Listening
- Tactic six: Embrace the Messenger
- Tactic seven: Overdo Thank-Yous
- Tactic eight: Be Painstaking in the Hiring Process
- Tactic nine: Eliminate Bad Apples
- Tactic ten: Make Sure Everyone Has a Voice
- Tactic eleven: Pick Up Trash
- Tactic twelve: Embrace Fun
2: While some tactics don’t apply (Tactic eight: Be painstaking in the hiring process!), many others do.
Yesterday’s post about the St. Louis Cardinals minor league coach seemed particularly relevant to parenting (Tactic four: Preview Future Connection). He told his young players about a current major league superstar: “Three years ago, he was sitting right where you are.”
As the dad in our blended family of six kids, I loved this exercise in perspective-taking. One day soon, that could be you…
What is it about dads (I can’t be the only one!) that we love to give advice and tell our kids what they should do? How does that usually go?
Instead, we are better served by Tactic five: Overcommunicate our Listening.
As a teenager myself, many years ago, two of my friends and I got a ticket for some mischief-making. We decided not to tell our parents and hire our own lawyer.
A few days passed, and I thought better of that decision. I told my dad. He had quite a temper, but instead of yelling at me, he thanked me for telling him (Tactic six: Embrace the Messenger). It ended up being a moment of real connection.
At PCI, our leadership philosophy is based on servant leadership. Many tactics on Daniel’s list align with this approach, including tactics ten: Make Sure Everyone Has a Voice, one: Spotlight our Fallibility Early On, seven: Overdo Thank-Yous, and eleven: Pick Up Trash.
Turns out this mindset works both as a leader and as a parent.
3: My two favorite parenting ideas are to Capitalize on Threshold Moments (tactic two) and Embrace Fun (tactic 12).
Because the family that plays together stays together!
More next week!
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Reflection: Which of Daniel’s twelve rules would be fun to try out with my family?
Action: Do it!
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