Leadership Lessons from My Kiddo’s 4th Birthday

As a program manager and a mom, I’m constantly juggling deadlines, team dynamics, and the chaos of parenting a now 4-year-old. This week, we celebrated my son’s birthday, complete with not the right cake, and decorating post bed time just to make sure it's a fun surprise to wake up to. Amid the joyful chaos, I realized that planning his birthday and our upcoming free friday so that he still gets a special adventure. That being said, my gift to you all, since my kid hates a valuable life lesson right now, is four leadership lessons you can find from trying to set up a fourth birthday celebration. 

Plan with Flexibility in Mind

Organizing a 4-year-old’s birthday is like managing a project with a client who changes their mind every five minutes. My son wanted a dinosaur theme, then a paw patrol but with dinosaurs as well, and finally settled on paw patrol. As a leader, I’ve learned that a solid plan is essential, but so is the ability to pivot. Whether it’s a shifting project scope or a team member’s unexpected absence, adaptability keeps the show running. While we could pivot if needed, sometimes the implementation of expectations means that there is also a need to change it up if necessary. At work, I keep contingency plans in my back pocket to handle surprises without derailing the team.

Celebrate Small Wins (and Balloons)

My kiddo’s face lit up when he saw the whole kitchen and living room dedicated to celebrating his birthday. In leadership, celebrating small milestones, like hitting a project checkpoint or a team member nailing a presentation, boosts morale and keeps everyone motivated. Just like those balloons added joy to the celebration, acknowledging your team’s efforts, no matter how small, creates a positive vibe that fuels progress. Find out the fun ways to make the team's effort matter. I absolutely hate a balloon but you know who does not - that four year old boy who loves it so much. So even on teams when thinking that slowing down to celebrate does not matter it does. 

Delegate Like a Pro

No one can pull off a birthday celebration alone, just like no leader can manage a project single-handedly. I enlisted my mom to handle the bed time routine while I got to get started on decorating, or for a friday jammed pack full of fun we conquer and divide things like pre-k open house and swim lessons. In the workplace, delegation works the same way. It’s about trusting your team to take ownership of their tasks, just as I trusted my mom to handle bedtime with care. The temptation to micromanage can be strong—after all, you know exactly how you want the decorations hung or the project executed. But hovering over every detail stifles creativity and growth. When you empower others by giving them clear responsibilities and the freedom to execute, you’re not just lightening your load; you’re building a stronger, more confident team.

Create Moments of Connection

The best part of the birthday celebration? Watching my son look at all the presents and decor just saying thank you and also continuing to grow our connection together as mother and son. As a leader, fostering authentic relationships within your team is key. Skip the forced “mandatory fun” events (like those pizza parties we’ve all endured) and focus on creating opportunities for genuine collaboration, like brainstorming sessions or casual check-ins. These moments build trust and make your team feel valued.

Wrapping It Up

My son’s birthday reminded me why I do what I do—both as a mom and a leader. Seeing his happiness gave me a sense of purpose, just like leading a team to success does at work. Leadership isn’t just about hitting KPIs or meeting deadlines; it’s about inspiring others with a shared vision. Whether it’s rallying your team around a bold goal or making your kid feel like the star of the day, leading with joy and intention creates lasting impact.

As I cleaned up the wrapping paper and reflected on my son’s 4th birthday, I realized that leadership lessons are everywhere—even in a toddler’s birthday celebration. By planning with flexibility, celebrating small wins, delegating effectively, fostering connection, and leading with joy, you can inspire your team to thrive. So, here’s to learning from the little moments and applying them to the big ones—both at home and in the office.