Many of us turn to our fathers for guidance in tough situations, and similar actions apply with the employee/manager relationship. With Father’s Day this coming Sunday, June 18, we are taking a moment to highlight three fatherhood essentials that our Paycom dads translate into management.
1. Patience
Patience is defined as demonstrating forbearance under pressure, and for these Paycom leaders and fathers, patience is applied in both the office and at home.
“Everyone will make mistakes and drop the ball somehow – and small children act-up or don’t listen; it’s human nature. While frustrating, keeping your cool in trying situations is key. I don’t think people react well or learn from anger and yelling. So take a moment and calmly explain to your kids / employees about how they can learn from their experiences; find the teachable moment.” – Brock Lay, father of two and Paycom senior graphic designer
“Oftentimes, kids are more challenging because they try to set boundaries and push the needle, while employees are trying to improve. Being a father taught me patience, which allows me to be less reactionary when dealing with work situations. Because of my children, I am able to slow down to make the right business decisions instead of emotional decisions.” – Brad Richardson, father of two and Paycom director of business intelligence
“Fatherhood taught me to exhibit patience on a level I never knew was possible, and on the flip side, management taught me how to best achieve buy-in and give critical feedback; both of which have helped me in each respective field. I feel I am a better father because of my leadership experience and vise-versa.” – Jason Bodin, father of two and Paycom director of PR and corporate communication
2. Compassion
Recent scientific studies have shown a more compassionate workplace has profoundly positive effects on morale and productivity.
“Being a father to my daughter strengthens my sense of compassion for people. I subscribe to the thought of servant leadership, so showing compassion to others and understanding what they require from me to be successful is an incredibly important skill.” – Jason Hines, father of one and Paycom legal compliance attorney
“When you see employees grow, develop and learn new things at Paycom, sometimes you just have to stop and just be amazed, proud and experience a sense of joy. But, along with fatherhood, it means that sometimes we have to roll up our sleeves, embrace the hard stuff and apply grit in order to achieve your objectives, whether potty-training or payroll.” – Chanse Moucka, father of two and Paycom HR manager
3. Explaining the Why
People are innately curious. Think back to when you were a child and constantly asked, “Why?” Asking “why” is a child’s way of learning and forming ideas of the world around him or her. The same is true of adult learners.
“It is natural human behavior for people to want to know why. ‘What is the reasoning behind our mission? What is the logic of the task at hand?’ When it comes to influencing and getting people on board, it is imperative to explain the why.” – Chad Raymond, father of two and Paycom vice president of human resources
“Put everything in the context of the vision. With my kids at their current ages, success in school is a part of creating academic opportunities after high school, and then career opportunities after college. Sports teams always think in terms of championships. The vision drives everything, at home and at work.” – Jim Quillen, father of three and Paycom director of tax
“I have learned that success in fatherhood, leadership and management stems from the same characteristics. You have to be respectable and humble. You have to be a learner and a servant. Whether your family or your team members, you have to help those you are responsible for leading develop their vision, commit to its success and expect excellence of themselves.” – Gavin Caldwell, father of two and Paycom staff attorney
As we take the time to celebrate our fathers, we encourage employers to embrace the values of patience, compassion and encouraging learning throughout one’s career by continuously explaining the why. As parents shape their children’s experiences, the best managers can shape their employees’ growth and career success.
