Leadership Skills For Kids: Part 1 of 2

Leadership skills for kids is a subject that isn’t seriously considered by parents or the public school system as often as it should be.

It’s never too early, or late for that matter, to begin teaching kids the basics in leadership development.

Most parents remember, believe in, and therefore strive to teach their children, the GOLDEN RULE:

Not surprisingly, this golden rule is also one of the most important leadership skills for kids to fully understand. Kids need to appreciate and respect others who may see things differently than they do.

It's important to make your child aware of the fact that that not everything is simply black and white - that there are many shades of grey, different point of view that should always be considered.

Kids must realize that each situation they face should not necessarily be summed up as right or wrong. Kids need to learn to appreciate some circumstances as just 'different' that what they are used to, and because it's different, they should strive to understand it and potentially learn from it.

If you are already teaching the Golden Rule to your kids, you’re already off to a great start, but now you can begin to take the discussion to the next level.

Let’s take a look now at six more top leadership skills for kids:

1. Communication - Encouraging children to effectively communicate with others is a critical part of their leadership development. Make the key point that everyone is given two ears and only one mouth so they might listen twice as much as they speak!

   Listening effectively is key to good communication.

2. Collaborate/Teamwork - Working well with others is another highly important skill for kids. Becoming more accomplished as a team in less time, rather than simply going it alone, is a key learning for kids.

   The social aspects of teamwork are equally important. Children who are shielded or overprotected by parents can be handicapped when it comes down to social situations. Kids must learn firsthand how to get along in the world with a diverse group of opinionated individuals.

3. Negotiation/Compromising - Through the process of working in teams, kids learn the art of give and take. Compromising in certain areas to ensure the task is complete, yet all parties walk away pleased with the outcome, is a leadership skill for kids to master.

   The process of compromise and negotiation teaches kids to stay focused on the bigger picture versus only their personal or singular outcome.

4. Planning/Strategic - Taking time for kids to plan a strategy is a great way to empower them and to build their self-esteem.

   Given a large task, a child can easily become overwhelmed. However, by showing a child how to break down a task into smaller, bite-sized pieces will build their self confidence and provide them with a clearer vision for success.

5. Vision - A child who can see their outcome clearly is more likely to achieve their vision.

   Kids can be taught how to better visualize through reading or listening to the tales of past achievers. Read often to your child.

   Introduce your child to a world of successful people through books and movies that provide strong and memorable leadership lessons. Kids who are read to by their parents, and who are made to read from their early years, will greatly benefit in their adult years.

   Leaders are readers. And kids who read yearn to learn. They will not only have a better appreciation and love for reading, they will also read faster while committing more information to memory.

6. Persistence/Determination - Provide your child with a strong foundation of personal pride. Kids are too often coddled when they should instead be encouraged to pick themselves up and “shake it off”.

   When a child falls while learning to walk, they instinctively cry because the fall was unexpected and the experience scared them. Parents often mistake the cry as a symptom of pain, believing the child may have been injured in the fall.

   Kids learn quickly that if they cry, parents provide immediate attention - and kids LOVE lots of attention. More crying equals more attention. This pattern quickly can lead to a vicious circle, which ultimately serves no useful purpose for either the child or the parent.

   An important question for parents is, “Who’s leading who?”

   Persistence and determination are leadership skills for kids to develop if they are to become highly successful in life. Every failure your child experiences should be viewed as one more step toward their future success.

   Working through obstacles prepares kids for the true reality waiting for them in the real world. Having the ability, and in fact – the instinct – to PRESS ON, will serve your child well throughout his or her lifetime.

   The early development of leadership skills for kids cannot be overstated. Parents who teach these important skills provide their children with a tremendous advantage. In contrast, the worst thing a parent can do is in effect, “shackle” their children with low expectations.

   Use the exercise in Part 2 of this article to begin teaching leadership skills for kids in your life.

   (Go to Part 2)
   
   
   
   

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   More Leadership Development Articles

   » Leadership For Kids – Part 2 of 2
   Try this leadership exercise to get your child on the road to leadership. You may already be raising a great leader, but our leadership activities for kids will certainly help.

   » Leadership For Kids - Blend But Don't Bend
   Coaching leadership skills for kids in a world full of peer pressure is never an easy task – but it can be accomplished with the right leadership tools and resources.

   » Leadership vs. Management - A World of Difference
   Leading and managing are two different animals entirely! Discover the benefits and pitfalls when comparing leadership versus management in the workplace.

   
   
   
   

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