Big Sister Magic - Expert Article FINAL
Big Sister Magic
How to turn your little sibling into your assistant
Where do you see yourself going in life? Do you dream of becoming the CEO of a Fortune 500 company? Perhaps you would have a personal secretary who would handle all your pesky tasks while you focus on conquering the world.
What if I told you you can have that now?
Well, look no further. The best part about having a younger sibling is you can tell them to do whatever you want – that is, if you know how to do it right. As someone who has an eight-year-old brother, I would say I’ve mastered the art of turning him into my personal assistant over the years. Now, watch and learn as I share my tips on how you can get a helping hand (and become a more fun older sibling along the way!).
Up Your Game
Like any typical big-shot CEO, you love coffee and can’t function without it. You make your assistant grab your favorite Starbucks iced Americano down the street every morning. Even though it’s part of their job, you know they wish they could be doing better things.
To make the coffee runs feel more bearable, you decide to turn it into a game. After all, who doesn’t love a good one? You create a bingo card of items to find and challenges to do on their walk to the store. If they can score a bingo by the time they get there, they can also order themself a drink. It’s a win-win! Their face immediately lights up with excitement, and they sprint to get your Americano.
Similarly, kids love games. They’re all about it. In fact, human behavior expert Yesim Kunter says, “...kids are naturally playful and creative, as their boundaries are not yet fully formed.” When kids play, it gives them boosts of dopamine (happy feelings), making them more inclined to keep doing so (Webb). A couple of weeks ago, my family visited LA to help me move in. It was my brother’s first time in California, and he had an absolute blast. From building sand castles at Laguna Beach to going on the wild rollercoasters at Disneyland, my brother loved visiting the landmarks and doing fun activities. He couldn’t get enough of them!
Below are some games I usually play with my brother (especially when I need him to do my bidding):
- The Floor is Lava
- Say, “The floor is lava!” and give a 10-second countdown for your sibling to stand on something that is not the floor. They are to pretend the floor is bubbling hot with lava and hop around “stones” (furniture) until they reach safety (the other side of the room).
- Suppose you want a banana from the fridge. Easy. Shout, “The floor is lava! The destination is the kitchen” and ask your sibling to get it. Now you got yourself one :P
- Red Light, Green Light
- Pretend you’re a cop and your sibling is a car. When you call out “green light”, they are free to move until you say “red light”. You give them a small punishment if you catch them moving when it’s red.
- Let’s say your room is a bit messy. Shout “green light!” and have your sibling pick up as much stuff off your floor until you say “red light”. All of a sudden, your room has never been cleaner!
Flattery Will Get You Nowhere Everywhere
Everyone loves a fancy, important title.
Director of CEO Relations sounds much better than personal assistant, doesn’t it?
Your job title is like a compass; it guides people’s perception of you, signaling your expertise and influence (Carroll). Additionally, it can boost your self-esteem. A study showed giving employees a high-status title gave them a sense of control, improving their levels of performance and satisfaction (Brown).
Over the years, I’ve realized my little brother is much more likely to do something if I boost his ego. If I simply ask him to go wash the dishes, he’ll most likely resist. But, if I call him the greatest dishwasher ever… now, that’s a different story. Here’s usually how our conversation goes:
Brother: *excitedly looks up from his iPad* hehe, yes! 😊
Me: There’s a pile of dishes in the sink, but no one is better at washing them than you. You clean them up so fast and leave no smudges. Think you can take care of them?
See how easy that was? All it took was a little flattery and boom! No more dirty dishes.
Keep it Simple, Stupid (KISS)
One day, a new, high-profile client of yours wants you to travel to New York to complete an important business deal. You tell your assistant, “Book me a flight next week and make sure I’m sitting on the right side of the plane with extra legroom. Then, arrange my stay at Hyatt Hotel, but if they’re fully booked, find the second best option. And while you’re booking the flight, order my in-flight meals but ensure none has any shellfish, dairy, nuts, or gluten. You know I’m terribly allergic.”
Your assistant, visibly frazzled, feels too overwhelmed and quits on the spot.
Now, that’s more of a dramatic ending, but you get my point. Less is always more. If you give your sibling unclear or overly complicated tasks, they will feel like it’s a chore and won’t want to do it. Here’s an example:
Option 1: Ethan, would you please put my clothes in the washing machine? Separate the whites from the colors. Then, put it on low heat and push the power button. Oh, and don’t forget to throw in the Tide Pods before starting the wash!
Option 2: Ethan, would you please add Tide Pods to the washing machine and wash my white clothes on low heat?
Which one was more effective? You probably chose option 2. The task was simple and made it easy for him to understand what you wanted him to do. Stoyan D. Tunkov, a leadership development expert, says when you cut straight to the chase and eliminate filler words, your message becomes easier to process for the receiver, eliminating any feelings of stress or uncertainty. As someone who tends to get easily overwhelmed, I always appreciate it when people are straightforward. Simplicity is key!
And voilà! That, my friend, is how you work that big sister magic. All you need to do is gamify the tasks, give some compliments, and keep it simple with them. Before you know it, your little sibling will lend you a helping hand more often and think you’re the best older sister/brother ever! Thank me later. 😉
Works Cited:
Brown, Jessica. Can a Job Title Change Your Behaviour? 25 Feb. 2022, www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20170920-can-a-job-title-can-change-your-behaviour. Accessed 30 Sept. 2024.
Carroll, Heather. “More Than Just a Name: How Important Is a Job Title?” Vista, 9 Feb. 2024, vistact.com/more-than-just-a-name-how-important-is-a-job-title. Accessed 30 Sept. 2024.
Kunter, Yesim. “Raising Creative and Playful Thinkers | Expert Advice | the Genius of Play.” The Genius of Play, thegeniusofplay.org/genius/expert-advice/articles/raising-creative-playful-thinkers.aspx?#:~:text=Children%20are%20naturally%20playful%20and,to%20our%20adaptation%20and%20evolution. Accessed 30 Sept. 2024.
Tunkov, Stoyan D. Effective Leaders Prefer Straightforward Communication. 10 Feb. 2022, www.linkedin.com/pulse/effective-leaders-prefer-straightforward-stoyan-d-tunkov. Accessed 30 Sept. 2024.
Webb, Amy, PhD. “The Revealing Reason Why Kids Love Video Games.” The Thoughtful Parent, 22 May 2024, thoughtfulparent.com/why-are-video-games-addicting.html. Accessed 30 Sept. 2024.
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