Joseph Cianciotto: What Makes a Great Dad

Fathers often feel overwhelmed by balancing work, relationships, and the demands of being a father. Today, Joseph Cianciotto shares his insights on what makes a great dad to help fathers everywhere.


	Image source: istockphoto.com

Joseph Cianciotto first mentions that great dads are generally curious and very open to all kinds of feedback.

As a father, one great way to know if you are on the right track to being empathically attuned to your child is to ask. Joseph Cianciotto says that being open to feedback about your understanding of another person is essential to forming strong bonds.

Always remember that children are the perfect mirror. Children will tell or show you without hesitation if you are in sync. To this end, expanding your openness and curbing your defensiveness will go a long way toward building a great paternal relationship.

In line with that, Joseph Cianciotto mentions that great dads can listen and empathize with their children.


	Image source: istockphoto.com

Many dads often feel that their role should be a provider of advice and wisdom. That said, good parenting also requires listening without having an answer. Modern developmental psychology research focuses on the link between empathy and children's mental health.

Empathy is a communication skill that involves stepping into the perspective of another to imagine and understand what they feel. It is a way of emotionally "tuning in" to another person that can be validated by checking in to see if your guess is right. It is a great skill to develop with your kids, and you can start even before your kids learn to speak. Too often, dads confuse listening with passivity and fail to connect meaningfully with their kids, adds Joseph Cianciotto.

In conclusion, a great dad is also a great communicator who not only listens but also understands when no one else can.

Find out more about how families can enjoy New York together by subscribing to this Joseph Cianciotto blog.

About Us

Joseph Cianciotto represents an equal mix of creative chops complemented by a strong business acumen. He has most recently served as executive creative director at Translation, overseeing content related matters within the agency.

Prior, he was the executive creative director and chief digital officer of DDB NY, where his creative leadership was extended to include print, television/film, social media, branded content, and CRM. Throughout his tenure with the company, he has worked for a diverse assortment of clients including State Farm, NBA, NFL, NY Lottery, Electrolux, Glidden, Reebok, USTA, Cotton, Subaru, Diet Pepsi, Unilever, J&J, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Gibson, Merck, GP, ExxonMobil and UTC.

Before his eleven-year tour at DDB NY, Mr. Cianciotto was vice president and creative director of interactive at D’Arcy Worldwide, since early 1998.

Throughout his career, Mr. Cianciotto has won almost every major award in the ad industry, including Cannes, ANDY, One Show, Webby, Comm Arts, and Clios. He holds a degree in Visual Communications from Carnegie Mellon and currently resides in Long Island, NY with his wife Jen and daughters Hannah and Sophie.

A significant element of Mr. Cianciotto’s body of work represents pro-bono campaign work done in conjunction with the AD Council for organizations that include the Bully Project, ReachOut (suicide prevention), KnowHowToGo and the AARP Caregiver Initiative.