👶 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐃𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐞𝐝𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬: 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩

Coming back from summer break, one thought keeps hitting me:

I’ve led complex negotiations across borders and categories.

But none have taught me more about influence than parenting my 1-year old toddler.

Here’s the setup:

🔹 He can’t speak.

🔹 He has very strong opinions.

🔹 He changes his mind without notice.

🔹 He has zero regard for your timeline or agenda.

Sound familiar?

💥 I’ve handled million-dollar deals with less resistance than getting him to eat broccoli.

📑 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 & 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥?

 In procurement, we love processes.

 In parenting, bedtime now runs like an RFP:

🔹 Phase 1: Bath

🔹 Phase 2: Wrestle a towel onto a moving target

🔹 Phase 3: Wrestle pajamas onto a moving target

🔹 Phase 4: Scope creep (one more play, one more sip of water,...)

🔹 Phase 5: Executive override (a.k.a. "because I said so")

But what surprised me most wasn’t the chaos.

It was how much leadership outside the office sharpened leadership inside the office.

There are days I can close a tough supplier negotiation and feel calm.

Then I try to get a one-year-old into bed, and question everything I thought I knew about patience, empathy, and influence.

Because whether it’s toddlers or suppliers, the job always comes down to one thing: 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞.

Procurement made me a better dad.

Fatherhood is making me a better procurement leader.

People don’t come with a manual.

But with enough patience, presence, and clarity...you find a way.

🙋‍♂️ What’s one lesson your kid taught you that made you better at work?