Everybody’s talking about Kobe these days (no last name needed): his record and reputation are now more legendary than ever. Talent like his – gained as a result of lots of hard work – inspired countless others to try to do the same… but you wonder who or what inspired him. In many of the most fundamental ways, it was his father, a professional basketball player (too) who went on to coach in several leagues. Parenting is about many things, not the least of which is inspiring children; not surprisingly, many of the best aspects of parenting apply to managing employees. Like: enforcing rules but also encouraging flexibility; having to say “no” without hurting feelings or creativity; being objective… and loving; making sure everyone gets enough rest… but then up and out on time every day; and recapping each day’s ups and downs at the dinner table to make sure everyone’s okay. Parents, like managers, know that the most important thing is to care about and inspire people so they can be great in whatever they want to do. It’s tough enough to get going each day – real professionals shake that off, and challenge, motivate and inspire those around them. Be like a parent when you supervise others today.
Kobe Bryant (1978 – 2020): American professional basketball player
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