I feel such a special fascination with the work of midwives that, for some years now, I have dedicated myself to learning about how they do what they do. I have been fortunate enough to talk to some of the very few true midwives who still exist. What I have learned from them has led me to build the midwife metaphor that, taken to organizational worldcan give us a new notion of leadership.
I believe that the true role of those of us who work with people is to support them in making them the best version of themselves. This process involves connection, deep dedication, unconditional love and recognizing that behind the results are the processes and their excellence and, behind these, is the Being.
Let’s look at some of the lessons that midwives give us about their art and the beliefs that underlie their work.
Knowledge and prior preparation
Before giving birth, the midwife meets the mother, talks to her, inquires about her life, her habits and her family. Touch and explore your body. Tour your house or the home where the birth will take place. His attitude is that of someone Look for tools that allow you to arrive better prepared for the big moment.. A midwife prepares, knows the parturient in depth, knows What are their capabilities and where should we pay more attention?. This allows you to anticipate what the birth will be like and what resources to rely on.
A Midwife leader invests quality time in deep knowledge of his collaborators: where and how they live, their social and family environment, their worries, the dreams and anguish of their soul, as well as what makes them happy. Know what your strengths, potentials, opportunities for improvement and learning styles are. Part of the belief that it is not possible accompany the transformation of that which is not known and loved.
Connection
The midwife dedicates herself totally to her work, in a connection status and absolute presence. Any distraction would endanger the lives of mother and baby. She is there, in the now, with all her being.
With the same devotion that the midwife dedicates herself to her work, the midwife leader does so to the development and empowerment of her people.
Exercise a conscious leadershippresent in the here and now physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. From the conscious connection with himself he appears for the other. He knows that connection with the other is only possible through presence.
Confidence that the other can
During the process, the midwife never judges the mother. He only accompanies her, encourages her, inspires her, motivates her. Their connection is so deep and their love so full, that there is no need for folds.
Just as the midwife is able to visualize birth before it occurs, midwifery leaders look at what their collaborators can becomebeyond current performance. They act from the absolute conviction that the other can, privileging potential rather than reality.
Accompaniment
The midwife accompanies by being sweet sometimes, other times encouraging. Sometimes he massages the mother or paces her breathing. And, when necessary, he shouts at her, challenges her, he even slaps her if necessary because he knows that, if he doesn’t, perhaps the woman will give up, not continue pushing, and let everything beautiful in her die. inside. The midwife knows that this pain and effort will be rewarded with a new life.
A midwife leader teaches, shows, listens, motivates, uses error as a learning resource, recognizes and positively reinforces. Demand, discipline, press, hurry, challenge, place obstacles, exert pressure, always measuring how far. With love, patience and mastery, he accompanies, monitors, closely follows up or asks for accounts, evaluates, and offers feedback. Understand when it is time to instruct and when it is time to delegate. The higher the challenge and the greater the effort, the more opportunities people will have to unleash their full potential. Just as the midwife does not apply a single immutable procedure, leaders know that development is not linear, following a fixed and equal path for everyone. It is a path that is co-designed, enriched and adjusted in a personalized way.
Drop the result
The midwife is never thinking about the result, nor does she even make an effort to visualize it. He simply knows that it will happen. If the baby is to be born and she and the mother do what is indicated, the result will come. No need to stress or think about it. Just live the process.
The midwife leader understands that, if he/she has invested quality time in getting to know his/her collaborators and lovingly accompanies them during the process, better human beings will emerge.
As the orientals say, the wu weithe moment of flow and allow that the leadership of its collaborators is deployed freely. Understand that When you do the right things, the results will follow..
Wisdom
The midwife puts all her technical knowledge and, especially, her wisdom at the service of the mother. Even if she is the most expert, she will never be able to give birth for her and will support her in giving birth to the baby she has inside and not the one she would like to see born.
Los midwife leaders generate reflective contexts —which go beyond teaching tools or formulas— so that the other can build their own learning and support them throughout. be the best version of yourself you want and not the best projection of the leader. And just as the midwife knows that it is not possible to give birth to someone who is not pregnant, if a person or organization is not enthusiastic and committed to their transformation, it will not happen. Exercising leadership means understanding that employees are the protagonists and change is always a personal choice.
Being and making community
The midwives I have met are part of a community of women who accompany, support, consult, talk about their best and worst procedures, learn together and help each other to be better.
Los midwife leaders They talk a lot with others, they know how to ask for help, they share best practices, they create spaces for make mistakes learning opportunities and grow together. They also promote the collective intelligence among his collaborators. They know that big games are played with others and learning appears in the relationship.
Modesty
The midwife’s reward is the satisfaction of having facilitated the process of bringing out the best that she had within herself. She does not expect special recognition. He knows he won’t have them. No one will look at or congratulate the midwife, eyes will be on the new life. It is the moment of withdrawal, the protagonists are mother and son. And this is where the greatness of the midwife is evident: her humility that comes from a tamed ego.
Likewise, those of us who aspire to support others to be their best versions invest time in our personal development and taming our sense of self-importance.
Midwifery leaders know that power comes from granting autonomy to collaborators and stepping aside, allowing them to shine.
Being a midwife leader is a metaphor referring to a style of servant leadership, inclusive, conscious, loving and supportivewhich pursues the achievement of extraordinary results putting people at the center, taking care of how.
Being midwives of our children, family, community, work teams, allies, colleagues, students, clients, patients, coachees, go through develop new understandings, skills and sensitivities.
I am convinced that we are witnessing the historical birth of a new world, one that we have not yet fully understood. It is the spirit of midwives that I want to summon into leadership as a loving contribution to future generations.
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Empowerment
A midwife leader empowers her collaborators to take ownership of their roles, encouraging them to trust in their abilities and make decisions independently. They create an environment where individuals feel safe to express their ideas, experiment, and embrace vulnerability without fear of judgment or reprisal. This empowerment fosters creativity and innovation, allowing the collective wisdom of the team to shine.
The midwife leader understands that true empowerment comes from equipping their team with the necessary tools, skills, and confidence to thrive. They recognize the uniqueness of each individual, celebrating diversity, and integrating each person’s strengths into the team dynamic.
Continuous Learning
Much like midwives who are always learning and adapting to new information and practices, midwife leaders embrace a mindset of continuous growth. They encourage a culture of lifelong learning, where team members consistently seek knowledge, seek feedback, and adapt to changing circumstances. This commitment to learning creates a resilient and agile team capable of evolving with the challenges they face.
Cultivating Resilience
Resilience is crucial in both midwifery and leadership. Midwife leaders help their teams build resilience by nurturing a supportive atmosphere where challenges are viewed as opportunities for growth rather than obstacles. They cultivate a community that learns from setbacks, celebrates triumphs, and remains steadfast in the face of adversity. By fostering this resilience, they ensure their teams can navigate the complexities of their environment with confidence and poise.
