The Montessori Manager: Three Principles for Leadership and Growth

By Andrea Vargas, CEO

This article originally appeared on Forbes.com for the Forbes Business Council.

The principles Maria Montessori laid out to develop the "Montessori method" have supported successful education programs for decades. These teachings can also provide incredible structure for leaders across businesses.

Central tenets of this education approach encourage qualities like confidence, curiosity and collaboration—among many others—and can inform an approach to management that empowers workers. Being the CEO of a network of Montessori schools, here are the following strategies I believe leaders can use to further develop employees and develop an effective leadership style.

A Montessori education allows children to make more decisions for themselves to help them build the confidence that is critical to learning new skills and independent execution. How frequently does your team have a challenge, and how often do you jump in to resolve it? While it might feel natural to take the wheel in a high-pressure circumstance, it could ultimately be discouraging and counterproductive. Instead, take a beat and see how your team tackles the problem.

This kind of exercise goes beyond skill-building, too. A 2023 Gallup survey found that only 49% of employees building their careers feel “very confident” they’ll reach their highest desired position at their current company. Learning opposite and teachable moments present themselves every day. Giving employees the chance to respond helps hone confidence over time and could enable a higher level of performance in the long term.

In early education, giving children the chance to build leadership skills can help set them up for thriving careers down the line. Key educational components like public speaking and presenting, as well as activities fostering social engagement, can uplift students at kindergarten age and prepare them for life beyond the classroom. Continuing this thread in the workplace is essential, so be sure to offer employees ample space to flex and grow this expertise.

Curiosity is fundamental to motivation and a Montessori education. In any role, there are tasks that one is more inclined to perform or enjoy more than others. This information is essential for managers looking to bring the best out of employees.

Creating an environment where curiosity thrives not only allows employees to explore their individual interests but also incentivizes them to learn and execute across their jobs. It’s critical, too, that leaders maintain an inquisitive mind. Doing so allows us to problem-solve with nuance and better organize employees toward shared goals.

What this looks like in practice is not only an embrace of questions and inquisitiveness but also a proactive encouragement of both. When employees are empowered to seek out knowledge and supported with additional resources to access it, workplaces can become increasingly innovative and motivated.

This effort is best supported by transparent communication. Give all parties a space to contribute their perspective to common goals. Brainstorms, lunch-and-learns and off-site team events are just a few ideas to jumpstart curiosity.

Multi-age educational settings provide examples for younger learners to model, which can support their individual growth and help build a more capable team. For the first time, five generations make up the workforce, with Gen Z recently surpassing Baby Boomers.

Peer-to-peer learning is essential because it allows for knowledge sharing and stronger employee bonds. There’s a great deal of information we can learn from one another, especially if workforces are set up in ways that encourage that exchange. In an office setting, this could look like a multi-generational employee resource group or reciprocal mentorship program. Consider how you can further break down barriers between junior employees and those with more experience.

Career development and early child development are two distinct chapters in our lives, but they have more in common than you might think. A strong leader recognizes the inner student in every employee, guiding them to expand their working style and learn new skills throughout their career. With so many resources devoted to productivity and efficiency, evaluate ways to create the kind of confidence, curiosity and collaboration that make those outcomes possible.