Grandmotherness (grandmotherhood) offers a powerful way to rethink how we approach leading teams with fairness. It shifts the focus from control and efficiency to listening, curiosity, and everyday interactions that shape trust over time.
In this episode, Dr. Laila Iskandar, an Egyptian social impact leader and former government minister, reflects on how grandmotherness has reshaped her thinking. Through storytelling, listening, and her experience with grandchildren, she shares how fairness, feedback, and curiosity show up in real, practical ways. These lessons from grandmotherness about listening, giving feedback, and analysing are directly relevant to how teams function today.
1. The Importance of Storytelling to Leading
The importance of storytelling to leading becomes clear through everyday interactions. Stories are not just a way to communicate. You need stories to tell who you are and why something matters. Whether it is explaining a project or sharing an experience, stories create context.
In grandmotherness, storytelling also invites questions. Children do not just listen. They challenge, question, and push you to think deeper.
This makes storytelling a two-way process. It builds understanding and helps people connect to purpose in a more meaningful way.
2. Leading by Listening and Giving Feedback
Leading by listening is one of the strongest lessons from grandmotherness. Children expect to be heard. They notice when they are interrupted or dismissed. This creates a discipline of listening carefully and responding thoughtfully.
Laila reflects that this has changed how she approaches giving and receiving feedback. Instead of reacting quickly, there is more space to:
- listen fully
- ask questions
- analyse before responding
This also creates an environment where people feel safe to speak and share their thoughts.
3. Rethinking Leadership Through the Eyes of Grandmotherhood
Grandmotherness challenges the idea that you already know the answer. Through constant questioning, it becomes clear that curiosity is more important than certainty. Asking “why” opens up new ways of thinking and helps uncover assumptions. Another key insight is that treating everyone the same does not work.
Different people respond differently. What works for one person may not work for another. Adjusting how you communicate and engage becomes essential. Rethinking leadership through the eyes of grandmotherhood means staying open, curious, and willing to change your approach.
4. How to Lead with Fairness in Everyday Team Interactions
How to lead with fairness becomes most visible through the experience of raising twins. Every action, word, and decision is noticed and compared. Small differences in attention or response are quickly picked up. This highlights an important truth. Fairness is not only about structure or policy. It is built through daily interactions.
- Who gets more attention
- How feedback is given
- How consistently people are listened to
- Whether there is any sign of favouritism
There is also a natural tendency to spend more time with people who are easier to work with. But this creates imbalance. Fairness requires awareness, effort, and consistency.
Grandmotherness (grandmotherhood) shows that fairness, listening, and curiosity are built through small, repeated actions over time. These lessons are simple, but they can reshape how teams experience trust, communication, and fairness.
To explore more lessons from grandmotherness about listening, giving feedback, and analysing, listen to the full conversation with Dr. Laila Iskandar on the Women Emerging podcast.
