64 MAY 2025 | INTHEVUE.COM WHEN WE THINK OF THE MOST influential leaders in our lives, we often look up to industry giants, world leaders, and high-powered CEOs. However, one of the most important leadership figures for many of us is someone who often goes unnoticed in the business world - our moms. For me, my mom, Cindy Conn, is the embodiment of leadership, not just in the professional sense, but in how she’s helped my father to lead our family and impacted the lives of others around her. So, with Mother’s Day around the corner, let’s take a moment to reflect on the leadership lessons I’ve learned from my mom. These aren’t just lessons about running a business or managing operations. These are life lessons that have helped shape who I am as a person and a leader. If you’re building a business, growing a team, or looking to step into a leadership role, the lessons I’ve learned from my mom can be impactful for you too. 1. COMMUNICATION IS EVERYTHING It doesn’t matter if you’re running a Fortune 500 company or managing a small team - communication is key. And my mom, with her background managing operations for General Motors, knew this better than anyone. She didn’t just sit behind a desk; she built relationships with everyone around her, from subordinates to executives. She understood that people communicate differently. Whether verbal or written, she adapted her approach to ensure the message was clear and understood. This is imperative for any leader. If you want your team to thrive, you have to communicate your vision, expectations, and goals consistently and clearly. The best leaders aren’t the loudest or most dominant; they’re the ones who can get the right message across at the right time, in a way that resonates. In her role, my mom made sure her team had daily check-ins to stay aligned. And that’s something I carry with me today - making time to touch base and ensure everyone is on the same page. Open, honest communication is central to successful leadership. 2. THE POWER OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND INITIATIVE As a leader, holding yourself and others accountable is important. My mom always led by example. She believed that a team’s success lies in how well each individual takes responsibility for their actions. This didn’t just mean getting the work done - it meant owning mistakes, addressing issues head-on, and learning from them. One of her core principles was, “Say what you mean and mean what you say.” This isn’t just about being clear; it’s about being dependable. Her accountability wasn’t just for herself, it extended to her team. And that accountability created a culture where everyone stepped up, took responsibility, and showed initiative. When things went wrong, it wasn’t about pointing fingers; it was about finding solutions, learning from mistakes, and moving forward with greater knowledge and strength. 3. COMPASSION + TOUGH LOVE = STRONG LEADERSHIP Leadership isn’t just about making tough decisions; it’s also about understanding the human side of things. My mom always showed genuine care for her employees, both personally and professionally. She didn’t just manage cars or operations; she managed people. There was a time when an employee of hers was stranded with a broken down car and couldn’t make it to work. She didn’t just dismiss the issue - she took action, sending someone to help them get their car to the shop, ensuring they were able to get back to work. This wasn’t just about following company procedures; it was about doing what was right for that person. It’s easy to fall into the trap of being too strict, too rigid, or too focused on numbers. But what I learned from my mom is that the best leaders balance discipline with compassion. When you show that you care about your people’s well-being, you gain their loyalty, respect, and trust. And when they trust you, they’ll go above and beyond to help achieve the mission. 4. DELEGATION DOESN’T MEAN GIVING UP CONTROL - IT MEANS BUILDING TRUST One of the biggest challenges any leader faces is learning how to delegate effectively. My mom learned this through her work with vehicle operations - overseeing thousands of vehicles and hundreds of executives across the nation. She had to trust her LEADERSHIP LESSONS I LEARNED FROM MY MOM Forging LEADERS { b y R y a n C o n n }
