The 6-Year-Old Who Taught Me Everything About Leadership

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Since moving back to Sydney, I’ve been spending real time with my 6-year-old niece for the first time since she was born.

And she’s become my unexpected leadership coach.

Kids see what we forget.
Say what we don’t.
Live what we unlearn.

Here’s what she reminded me, maybe you need the reminder too:

👇 6 Leadership Lessons From a 6-Year-Old

1. Ask “Why?”
Her question: “Why can’t we go to the park?”
Our answer sparked one of our best creative ideas.
Curiosity > complacency.

2. Team up, naturally.
She shared her Barbies—no prompts, no ego, just play.
Real collaboration doesn’t need politics.

3. Bounce back fast.
She fell. She cried.
Then she climbed again.
Resilience isn’t not falling—it’s rising quickly.

4. Celebrate small wins.
She built a sandcastle.
Then celebrated like she’d conquered the world.
Momentum comes from small wins—if we let it.

5. Be 100% you.
She danced in the rain.
No self-consciousness. No filter.
Authenticity isn’t a tactic. It’s a superpower.

6. Say what you see.
When I got back from the gym, she said:
“You stink, Uncle Champ.”
No shade. Just facts.
Radical honesty builds trust.

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💡 What She Taught Me

We complicate leadership.

But at its core, it’s about:

• Curiosity that drives innovation

• Authenticity that builds connection

• Playfulness that makes work more human

And above all, creating a space where people feel safe to be themselves.

The best leaders don’t command attention. They create belonging.

✨ Recommended Newsletters

⚡ Reflection Prompt

Which of these lessons do you need most this week?

Hit reply and let me know. Next week, I’ll share a few reader reflections; maybe yours will be one of them.

🧭 Final Thoughts

Leadership doesn’t always show up in a strategy deck.
Sometimes, it arrives barefoot, unfiltered, and holding a Barbie.

This week, lead with curiosity. Celebrate the small wins.
Say what you see.

You might be surprised what others learn from you.

—
Chris

P.S. That’s us below, right before the legendary sandcastle build at Cronulla Beach 👇