Leadership is one of the skills that the working world considers most vital for advancement and success, as any parent who has worked for a long time knows. A child who understands how to lead and when to lead is considerably more equipped to take advantage of life’s possibilities than one who does not. Here’s a simple four-step approach you may use to help your child develop leadership skills:
1) Promote independent thinking in your child
We talk about independent learning and independent thinking for our students a lot here at The SCC , and both are very important. The first is when students who have formed good study habits can be relied upon to follow instructions, finish tasks, or read up on a topic with little or no supervision. Independent thinking, on the other hand, is just as necessary, if not more so, when doing homework or studying for examinations.
An independent thinker goes above and beyond the instructions given to him or her, interprets the available material to reach his or her own conclusions, and takes the initiative to explore new areas of knowledge. Children who think for themselves are less inclined to follow by default and are more likely to speak up.
Parents can encourage their children to think about the “whys” and “hows” behind the objects, concepts, or scenarios they experience by encouraging them to think about the “whys” and “hows” behind the items, concepts, or scenarios they encounter. A kid who is attracted by the sound of a car engine, for example, could be gently encouraged to learn more about how engines function or to draw active comparisons between larger and smaller cars (a bigger engine is needed to power a bigger vehicle, and so on and so forth).
2) Encourage your child to speak up, and train them to do so fluently and confidently
It’s one thing to have your own thoughts; it’s quite another to have them heard. To be in a position to lead, one must first be heard and noticed, which is a universal truth that applies to all stages of life. Communication is another skill that all leaders must master, and some do it better than others. At the most basic level, a leader must be explicit in his or her directions so that the rest of the group understands what is expected of them.
A leader must also be able to persuade the group’s other members that the decision he or she has taken is correct. In other words, your youngster must learn to speak up when given the chance and to do so confidently and fluently.
Speaking up does not have to be verbal or in-person in this digital age. Emails and presentation slides are equally useful tools, and being a successful communicator necessitates both oral and written skills. The goal is to be able to articulate what you want to say clearly and concisely while also knowing what you’re talking about. Second, it is said that practice makes perfect. The more you encourage your youngster to use his or her speaking and writing muscles, the better. This is why SCC gives ample opportunities and resources for our students to improve their writing and speaking skills in class.
3) Expose your child to different experiences and different people
There are numerous books about leadership, but without first being exposed to a diversity of experiences and people, one may read them all and still not be any better at leading. To effectively lead others, a leader must first understand what motivates them. What are the desires of the people? What are the most effective methods for bringing people together to achieve a common goal? These questions have the same responses in the boardroom as they do on the playground. By exposing your child to a variety of circumstances in which various individuals behave in different ways, you are gradually helping him or she develop a bank of such responses that they can use in the future. Take your child to new places, introduce them to new activities, and introduce them to new people to broaden their horizons.
4) Allow your child the time and space to develop their leadership skills
Few, if any, people are born with the ability to lead. Some of us are naturally more introverted or timid, and it takes more effort and time for us to feel confident enough to lead. Some of us feel pressured to take on leadership roles early in life, while others are willing to keep a low profile. There are various leadership styles, some of which come more readily to some people than others. This means that people develop their leadership abilities at various rates and in diverse ways. As a result, it’s critical for you to have a long perspective of your child’s development of leadership skills, even as you give opportunities for him or her to do so and assist build his or her confidence.
Preparing Your Child to Be a Leader of Tomorrow
At SCC, we understand that dealing with life’s issues necessitates critical abilities that go beyond what is taught in the classroom and must be instilled over time. One of these skills is leadership, and we want to help your child develop the proper attitudes for success by encouraging them to ask the correct questions and express the right answers.
