Grandmotherness offers a different way of understanding how we show up when leading. It is not about authority or control, but about responsibility, presence, and care.
In this first episode of the series, Radhika Lee, an educator and founder who has spent decades shaping learning communities, reflects on how grandmotherness shapes the way we show up when leading. Her insights show that many of the most powerful leadership lessons do not come from formal training, but from lived experience, daily habits, and relationships built over time.
Leadership Lessons from Grandmotherness
One of the most important leadership lessons from grandmotherness is the awareness that what you say matters.
Radhika reflects on how grandchildren remember small moments and passing words for years. This creates a deep sense of responsibility. The same applies when leading. Even when it feels like no one is paying attention, people are always observing.
This awareness changes behaviour. It creates a need to be thoughtful, consistent, and intentional in how you show up. Another important lesson is making time. Grandmotherness teaches that you do not just find time, you make time. No matter how busy life becomes, time is created for what matters. This shows up in routines, whether it is spending time with family or creating space for regular conversations at work.
These routines build trust. They show people that they matter enough for time to be protected. There is also a strong connection between grandmotherness and sharing joy.
Radhika speaks about music, nature, and the small things that bring energy and connection. When you share what you love, people see you as human. This creates openness and makes relationships easier. These everyday actions shape how people experience you.
The Responsibility of Grandmotherness in Leading
The responsibility of grandmotherness goes beyond presence. It also includes helping others grow. One of the strongest parallels in the conversation is helping people get unstuck. When children feel stuck, the role is not to solve the problem for them, but to help them find their way forward. The same applies when leading. Taking over may solve the immediate issue, but it removes the opportunity for learning.
Instead, the role becomes guiding, nudging, and asking the right questions so that people can move forward on their own. Another important responsibility is becoming a person of trust. Trust grows when people know that they can come to you without being judged or overridden. It also grows when you do not use your position to impose your way of doing things.
Radhika is clear about this. Whether with family or at work, she does not tell others how to do things unless they ask. This creates space for others to develop their own approach. Grandmotherness also brings a connection to the past. Sharing stories, values, and experiences helps people understand where they come from. It gives them a sense of continuity and belonging. It also reminds them that they are part of something larger than themselves.
What Radhika Leaves Us Thinking About:
1. Be aware that your words carry weight
Small comments can stay with people for a long time. Being thoughtful in everyday interactions builds trust.
2. Make time, do not wait to find it
Protect time for conversations and connection. Regular routines help people feel seen and valued.
3. Share what brings you joy
Let people see what energises you. It creates connection and makes you more approachable.
4. Help people get unstuck, do not solve everything for them
Guide and support, but allow others to think and act for themselves.
5. Build trust by giving space
Avoid imposing your way of doing things. Trust others to find their own approach.
6. Connect people to a larger story
Share experiences, values, and context so people understand where they belong.
Grandmotherness shows that how we show up when leading is shaped by everyday choices. It is reflected in how we use our time, how we speak, and how we support others.
These lessons are simple, but they are not easy. They require attention, consistency, and care.
To hear Radhika Lee reflect on how grandmotherness shapes the way we show up when leading, listen to the full conversation on the Women Emerging podcast.
