Men and women who run organizations, lead a community and captain sports teams, are the product of cans covetous parents who follow simple rules that foster a leadership mentally, strengthen the mind and independent thinking. Their children don’t succumb to peer pressure; they follow their own beliefs. A leadership mentally pays off tomorrow as well as today. Childhood leadership in class and extra curricular activities are more accurate predictors of adult success than intelligence or examination marks. These kids are self confident, treat both adults and peers with respect, share toys willingly, and are good humored, show initiative and curiosity. They are always first to start a project; the others watch them, and then follow them. And most of all their enthusiasm is contagious. I am going to discuss my little secrets to foster such leadership qualities in your child.
Boost up your child’s confidence:
Confidence comes from being told. So building confidence begins with a child’s first steps. When he toddles triumphantly towards your congratulatory embrace, he has scored victory and savored its reward. Each subsequent little success leads to another. No success is too tiny to be complimented but this doesn’t mean you should fill the air with insincere hurrahs, or you should never criticize. Criticism should be coupled with both praise and instructions. Dads often say to their kids “you missed two easy goals.” Believe me your son knows that he missed; he doesn’t need to be reminded. Instead praise his efforts: “I like the way you dribbled. You are good!” then, “why don’t we practice tomorrow evening? I’ll bet we can improve upon your kick!”
Exploring quality:
Children (and adults too) admire and follow someone who is willing to explore, to rise to challenge. Yet, all too often, we teach our children to play safe. A schoolteacher told me about two boys who arrived in first standard were already skilled readers. She asked if they’d liked to be moved to a special advanced reading programme. One boy agreed eagerly. The other chooses to remain with the beginners. Sadly, his parents supported the decision. “You can guess which of those two will go on to be a leader. Persuade your child to think about success, not obstacles. The person who believes in success is one who inspires others to follow. Too often, we step in and shield a child from mistakes, their consequences and the lessons they teach. The child who gains inner resolve is the one who tries, falls short, corrects his or her errors and gets up to do it again. The one who inspires others is one who rises to the occasion even though he or she might fail.
Take your child’s dreams seriously:
Your daughter announces she wants to be a professional bull fighter. Or your son says he’s going to be a movie stunt man. Neither is exactly the future you had in mind for them. What do you say? Meanwhile, encourage their dreams; however outlandish they seem to you. What counts is the ability to fantasize, and to think about what might make the fantasies come true. A leader has been described as one who can have a vision, explain it to others and influence them to follow his path to it. But the first step is the dream itself.
Encourage your child to ask “what if?”:
“Possibility thinking” is a trademark of leadership. Those who examine a problem and show others how to solve it invariably lead the way. Encourage your child to ask, “what if I did this?” “What if I pulled my wagon over there?” Leadership needs to be sharpened by practice. A young leg -spinner must practice his bowling to make it perfect. Enroll your child in sports team, boy scouts, community organizations where they gain experience in dealing with others. But your children strive for leadership in their own areas of interest. Some children are leaders on the playground, others in the classroom. Not everyone can be school captain, or wants to be. Operating in an area where one feels at home builds confidence which is the foundation of leadership. Let your child lead the evening discussion, calling on each member of the family in turn and listening to comments, then summarizing what has been agreed upon. Encourage him/her to speak in class, learning to express oneself in front of others without shyness is a key skill. Have your child rehearse classroom recitations at home. Give suggestions about voice level, strength of expression, and eye contact. The outgoing kid who greets not just those in his or own circle but others as well is quickly recognized as a potential leader.
Teach him the basics:
Respect resourcefulness and responsibility as basic characteristics parents should develop in a child. The mantle of leadership falls on those who try to understand and abide by the rules(respectful), who keep trying, or try new ideas when there is a setback(resourceful)and who face up to the consequences of their actions(responsible).
Studies of leaders have shown that their parents, too, exhibited leadership qualities, though often in unrecognized ways. They considered community service important. They made a point of helping others. They had dreams for their families-couched in terms of values and standard, rather than material gain. Nutrition experts tell us that if you want a healthy child, you provide a healthy diet: what you put in is what you get back. That applies in character development. The love and concern you direct to your child returns in an inner strength and confidence that translates into leadership.