5 Powerful Principles of Leadership and Motherhood | Mandy Purwa Hartono | TEDxYouth@SWA

Key Concepts:

• Leadership principles applicable to both professional leadership and motherhood.
• The importance of leading by example.
• Capacity building for handling increased responsibilities.
• The foundational role of character and integrity.
• The guiding power of vision in achieving goals.
• The necessity of self-care and prioritizing oneself.

1. Example Matters: Monkey See, Monkey Do

• Main Point: Leaders and mothers must lead by example, as their actions are observed and emulated.
• Details:
  • The speaker quotes Paulo Coelho: "The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion."
  • Being a leader isn't just about giving orders but demonstrating the desired behavior.
  • The speaker shares an anecdote about her 4-year-old daughter, Madeline, imitating her makeup routine, illustrating how children learn by observing their parents.
  • In a professional context, the speaker emphasizes the importance of leaders showing enthusiasm and a positive attitude to inspire their teams.
• Application: Leaders should "walk the talk" and demonstrate the behaviors they want to see in their teams.

2. Capacity Matters: Expanding Your Container

• Main Point: The ability to handle responsibilities depends on one's capacity, which can be expanded through self-development and other strategies.
• Details:
  • The speaker uses the analogy of different-sized containers (small glass, pitcher, bucket) to represent varying capacities for handling responsibilities.
  • As responsibilities increase (e.g., from infancy to primary school), one must expand their capacity to avoid being overwhelmed.
  • The speaker addresses the common question of why some people struggle to achieve success, suggesting that they may lack the capacity to handle it.
• Step-by-Step Process to Expand Capacity:
  1. Focus on self-development and continuous learning.
  2. Manage time wisely, avoiding distractions.
  3. Improve physical and mental health.
  4. Enhance communication skills.
  5. Challenge oneself with greater responsibilities.
  6. Maintain the quality of relationships and environment.
  7. Engage in self-reflection and evaluation.

3. Character Matters: Integrity Above All

• Main Point: Character and integrity are fundamental to effective leadership and motherhood.
• Details:
  • The speaker quotes C.S. Lewis: "Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching."
  • While intelligence and wealth are valuable, they are insufficient without a strong character and integrity.
  • Character serves as the foundation upon which all other qualities are built.

4. Vision Matters: The Guiding Compass

• Main Point: A clear vision is essential for guiding both a company and a family towards their goals.
• Details:
  • Vision acts as a compass, simplifying strategy and providing direction.
  • The speaker shares her admiration for Sophia Amoruso and how her vision led to bringing Amoruso to the FinF Conference in 2023.
  • She also mentions her vision of having a company that could IPO, which was realized in 2023.
• Application: Leaders and mothers must have a clear vision to guide their decisions and actions.

5. Yourself Matters: Prioritizing Self-Care

• Main Point: Prioritizing self-care is crucial for effective leadership and motherhood.
• Details:
  • Leaders and mothers cannot lead from a place of emptiness; they must first be fulfilled themselves.
  • The speaker emphasizes the importance of mothers in setting the emotional tone within a family.
  • Similarly, leaders who are constantly angry or stressed create a negative work environment.
• Application: Leaders and mothers must prioritize their physical and mental health to effectively support others.

Conclusion:

The speaker concludes by emphasizing that being both a leader and a mother is possible and that "everything you need is within you." She offers a series of empowering statements, urging listeners to focus on self-control, resourcefulness, preparation, focus, and action, rather than seeking external factors like more time, motivation, resources, or knowledge. The core message is that inner qualities and a proactive approach are the keys to success in both leadership and motherhood.