Remember what it's like to get thrown into a new job with no previous experience?

I just got a vivid reminder — by taking parental leave after becoming a new parent. I stepped away from my business for a few months to help care for my son, spending the summer sleep-deprived and knee-deep in diapers.

But what a joy — and an eye-opener. As every parent knows, finding yourself responsible for another human being is humbling and life-changing. With less than 5% of new dads in the US taking two or more weeks of parental leave, I know I'm in the lucky minority.

For me, time away from the office as a full-time dad has also yielded a few lessons about being a leader. That's an unexpected bonus from that beautiful experience, which has given me a new perspective on work.

It's early days, but here are five things I've learned so far.

For leaders, stepping away can be an opportunity to let their people step up.

My kid needs me day and night. My employees? Less so — and that's a good thing. Sometimes, leaders and managers overestimate how much their people rely on them.

In my case, I'm lucky that the business has matured to the point where it's resilient enough to carry on just fine without my constant attention. Stepping away showed me I don't need to oversee everything and everyone. Without me hovering, team members can take ownership and thrive.

Besides, delegating is good for a........

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