People management - children management ?? November 15th

Having children is really uplifting, wonderful, fantastic, lovely and also very challenging. Especially when it comes to a teenager.

After a fashinating phonecall from the master of school´, giving your child the most unexpected and very challenging feedback, you realize that you very quickly have to make a decision for the best management and strategy due to the situation.And act.

Kind of tricky. Especially since you might have a lot of feelings to deal with at the same time.

Is there any difference in dealing with challenging people at work? I would say no. The only difference is that a grown up often listen to the feedback, take it as a gift and probably comes up with an actionplan or strategy for improvement. Thats the way we want our resources to see it. A chance to make sense and change your way of doing things.

When it comes to the children they are not that kind to themseleves or to the one that has to deal with the strategy or coaching talk to solve things out. They have some challenging thoughts that prevent them from being openminded and honest to themselves about what is ongoing.

One very good manager once said following " if you can manage children, you are probably good at managing grown ups" .

In that case you sometimes doubt that you should ever be in the management area and position again. The feelings burning and the energy to make things right, the effort to try to change a child is worthless if it does not come from the person/ child themselves. The children sooner or later have to realize that it is there choice to make a decision how to improve and change. And their willingnes and motivation to do that. You cant change anyone else.

To say that to a teenager can sound pretty fluffy, but it is worth a chance to get them understand that the life has just started, and one of the most important things you should be good at in life is to manage yourself. That is a good start. And the most exiting thing you can ever learn and do. A