Balancing a leadership role in the corporate world while being a single parent isn’t just a challenge; it’s a crash course in resilience, time management and empathy sprinkled with a healthy dose of chaos. Let’s be honest: whether you’re negotiating bedtime with a ten-year-old or budgets with the board, both scenarios require a mix of grit, adaptability and the occasional bribe (iPad time for my daughter or a coffee for myself).
One of the first lessons I learnt as a single parent was the art of prioritisation. When juggling a career with raising a child, you don’t have the luxury of overthinking. Decisions are made quickly. Do I tackle that mountain of emails or whip up dinner before my daughter starts snacking on cereal straight from the box?
Managing a team has taught me to separate the ‘must-haves’ from the ‘nice-to-haves’, a skill honed while trying to convince a small human that no, she doesn’t need a £30 per bottle skin care product.
The art of delivery
This mindset is all about results. At home, it’s about a meal on the table and showing up at after-school clubs – ideally looking semi-put-together. At work, it’s about achieving the numbers, submitting reports and providing my team with timely feedback so they can succeed. While the stakes may differ, the core principle remains: focusing on what truly matters and delivering.
Empathy, though, is where single parenting and leadership really overlap. Parenthood gives you a front-row seat to the spectrum of human emotions (usually during a meltdown about going to school). It’s taught me to listen, really listen, and be present.
When leading a team, understanding individual challenges and supporting employees to overcome them can be transformative. In today’s workplace, this empathy must extend to prioritising wellbeing. Creating an environment where employees feel supported – emotionally and professionally – is no longer optional. It is essential.
Initiatives like flexible working arrangements, mental health resources and open communication demonstrate a commitment to wellbeing that not only improves morale but also drives productivity and retention. Just as fostering emotional resilience in children requires attentiveness and patience, cultivating a culture of care at work builds trust and loyalty within teams.
True leadership
Then there’s time management. As a single parent, your day feels like a game of chess. Every move counts and you’re always thinking several steps ahead. But you learn to make it work. School drop-offs, work meetings, swimming lessons – every moment is accounted for. This skill naturally transitions into leadership roles, where effective delegation and strategic planning are key to success. For instance, setting clear goals and empowering your team to achieve them mirrors the structure and routine that helps a household thrive.
Moreover, the balancing act creates a unique form of resilience. As a single parent, you learn to navigate setbacks with a calm demeanour because showing frustration or giving up isn’t an option. Whether it’s a missed deadline or a tantrum at bedtime, you find solutions and push forward with a calmness that enhances work and home life. This resilience becomes a hallmark of leadership – the ability to remain composed and proactive in the face of adversity.
Ultimately, being a single parent in a leadership role is not about doing it all; it’s about doing what matters most with intention and authenticity. It’s about showing others that success is not measured by perfection but by perseverance. By embracing the lessons from parenthood, leaders can inspire their teams to find balance, focus on priorities and face challenges with unwavering determination.
The beauty of our circumstances, whether at home or in the workplace, is that they shape us. Within those challenges lie opportunities to grow, lead and inspire. And within every difficulty, we find strengths that not only enrich our lives but also create workplaces where individuals and teams can truly thrive and become the best version of themselves.
Stacey Bazdar is Head of Business and Education at Ryman
