Often the best mentors come from the most unlikely places. There are strong parallels between what Grandma does, the priorities she lives by, and the skills necessary to be a great leader...

1. 20 Gems of
Leadership from
Grandma

2. Grandma’s Gems
Often the best mentors come from the most
unlikely places.
There are strong parallels between what
Grandma does, the priorities she lives by,
and the skills necessary to be a great leader.

3. Grandma’s Gems
Here are 20 plays from Grandma’s
playbook; you can decide what they mean to
you as a leader.
Grandma:
1. Is the matriarch. The family holds her
accountable in the role; she didn’t ask for the
job. There is no training program; she learns
on the run and is guided by road sense.

4. Grandma’s Gems
Grandma:
2. Is honest. She calls it as she sees it. She
puts the needs of her tribe first. She doesn’t
have a political bone in her body but on
occasion bends the truth to avoid hurting
someone.
3. Loves unconditionally. She didn’t learn to;
it’s innate. It comes from caring and nurturing
others.

5. Grandma’s Gems
Grandma:
4. Protects her turf. Her instinct is to defend
her family. Intruders beware. Mess with anyone
in her den and look out.
5. Acts on her feelings. Precise logic takes
a second seat. Being “right” isn’t her prime
objective; achieving a positive emotional
outcome is.

6. Grandma’s Gems
Grandma:
6. Tends to the comfort of her family. She
believes that to be happy one’s basic needs
must be taken care of first.
7. Steals kisses. Showing affection openly
makes it OK for others to do the same. An
emotional bond is the net that keeps her family
together.

7. Grandma’s Gems
Grandma:
8. Spoils. She goes the extra and
unexpected mile for everyone. Surprise and
indulgence spell her mantra.
9. Never forgets. She remembers special
events, achievements and family moments.
She is always looking for something to
celebrate and is a copious note-taker to make
sure she doesn’t forget.

8. Grandma’s Gems
Grandma:
10. Is playful and fun. She feels at ease
releasing her inner child and isn’t all that
concerned about what others think.
11. Forgives, no matter what. She sees
perfection as an illusion; people make
mistakes and good intentions should be
recognized. She is OK with letting stuff go.

9. Grandma’s Gems
Grandma:
12. Exercises her imagination and
creativity. She loves art and encourages her
“students” to colour outsides the lines.
13. Negotiates to get the best deal. The
ultimate advocate, she wades into the parental
realm to bargain for what her grandkids want
but don’t necessarily need.

10. Grandma’s Gems
Grandma:
14. Wrote the book on care giving. Ask (or
even think about asking) for help and she is there.
Family priorities are her priorities. She can be
counted on for a daily call with “How can I help?”
15. Is a tenacious problem solver. She
dives into any issue that upsets any family
member and does not stop until a resolution has
been found.

11. Grandma’s Gems
Grandma:
16. Is loyal. It really doesn’t matter if she
agrees with what one of her flock says or has
done, she will defend them to the end.
17. Is happy with a zero return on her
investment. She expects nothing to come
her way. She gives. Period.

12. Grandma’s Gems
Grandma:
18. Tells family stories. Recalling family
moments “paints the family picture” and its
ancestry and that is what is cherished and
valued.
19. Sees bad stuff coming. She’s intuitive.
She senses undesirable outcomes and acts on
impulse quickly. Sometimes she’s right;
sometimes she’s wrong. It doesn’t matter.

13. Grandma’s Gems
Grandma:
20. Ad-libs to enhance the
experience. She makes up lyrics to her
bedtime songs. Disrupting the magic and flow
of the moment is unthinkable to her.

14. Grandma’s Gems
Take a page from Grandma’s
Playbook and it will make you a better
leader.

15. Wrap up – An Invitation
• bedifferentorbedead.com
• Blog Articles on Strategy,
leadership, Sales, Service,
Marketing (and other stuff)
• Connect and Engage
• Slideshare.net/royosing
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