Why High Achievers Struggle With Parenting

By Sue Donnellan | Parenting Mentor & Educator, Award-Winning Author, Mom of 4
You can lead a team, close deals, or run an entire company and still feel completely ineffective trying to get a 9-year-old to mow the lawn.

I recently spoke with a men’s group about this topic, and it sparked such a great conversation that I wanted to share it with you.

If you’re a high-performing mom or dad, it’s natural to parent the way you succeed everywhere else.

You set high standards. You expect accountability. You focus on results.

Then you get home and wonder:

“Why doesn’t any of this work with my kids?”

Using the same approach with your children can lead to resistance, power struggles, and more yelling. You’re left wondering why you can manage so much in the rest of your life but can’t get a little cooperation at home.

Why Workplace Leadership Doesn’t Always Work at Home

In my early parenting years, I was constantly frustrated because I expected my kids to respond the way adults do.

Then I realized that my approach was making things worse.

Kids don’t respond to authority the same way adults in a professional environment do.

They respond to influence.

Authority vs. Influence in Parenting

In this short, eight-minute video, Authority vs. Influence: Why High Achievers Struggle With Parenting, I explain the shift that changed everything for me.

You’ll learn how to move from demanding short-term obedience to building the trust and self-management skills your child will need throughout life.

Influence isn’t built through pressure or constant correction.

It’s built through the small moments and everyday conversations you have with your kids.

If you’re ready to rely less on control and lead your kids in a way that works better at home, watch the video below.

Watch Authority vs. Influence →

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Meet the Author

Sue Donnellan is a parenting consultant, mom of four, including triplets, and the founder of Ask Mom Parenting. For more than 25 years, she has helped parents understand what’s behind their child’s behavior, stop the yelling, and raise capable kids who know how to handle real life.

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