Not all children are born leaders. So, can we raise them to become leaders?
The conventional wisdom holds that only extroverts or people who are well-liked by their peers can make effective leaders. Another popular assumption regarding leadership is that this quality is inherent and can’t be learnt. Well the truth is that like many other traits, leadership can be learned and then developed over time. However it is vital to train children as early as possible to develop qualities of a good leader. As a leader, a child will build up confidence and succeed in activities like clubs, team sports, group projects, etc. Such skills will really bear fruit as children grow older.
Take the example of Ms. Jayalalithaa, the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu, as an example. In an interview, she admitted that she had been a shy student who avoided meeting new people in her school days. However, she later rose to great heights in politics and actively and with conviction governed her state. And even in the corporate world we have many such examples.
Who is a leader?
When we think of a leader, we picture someone who challenges the status quo, initiates arguments, or engages in oppositional behaviour. But a leader is much more than that. A good leader is sympathetic but assertive. He/She is a person with excellent moral character, emotional and social intelligence, and interpersonal skills. An effective leader challenges the status quo, but not without justification.
Having one’s own voice is a necessary component in learning to lead. It also involves acting independently when necessary and standing up for what you believe in. Going by this description, leadership skills may be taught to any child.
Qualities of a Leader
- Having a clear vision of what they want to achieve and the ability to clearly communicate this vision to everyone.
- Courage and willingness to take on new challenges and take calculated risks.
- Passion and self-motivation that other people can feed off of.
- Inspire others to get proper ‘buy-in’ in their vision.
- Setting high attainable standards that can be quantified and evaluated.
Leadership Lessons to nurture from childhood:
Retaining curiosity
Great leaders are knowledgeable about almost everything and are learners for life. They leverage on their early skills as they ask questions and demonstrate an open mind to learn different things.
Building a diverse mindset and inclusive behaviour
Leaders again draw on their early experiences by being open to learning, embracing change and giving equal opportunities to their peers. They give fair opportunities to everyone to contribute equally to the team.
Creating a culture of innovation and creativity
Leaders who adjust to a situation and maintain composure in the face of change or unforeseen events are not only good leaders, but also great strategists. Again, these are formative experiences that they have embraced by being inventive, creative, and actively engaging themselves with whatever is available around them.
Communication is a critical component of being an effective leader. Leaders who nurture their early skills of listening intently and responding to others calmly and respectfully demonstrate strong communication skills, therefore, become assertive leaders. Great leaders draw on these skills to become compelling communicators who can share ideas and expectations with their teams in a self-assured and considerate way.
Being a team player
True leaders leverage the strengths of their teams and lead them to success. Honing their early skills by including everyone in the team in their activities, sharing successes, and, on most occasions, are kind to their peers. They also demonstrate confidence in making decisions and are less afraid of failure.
So we all have traits and abilities we need to confidently handle the commitments of the future. Being a leader is not an exact science, but honing early skills and experiences are important.
Authored By: Rashmi Mandloi, Co-founder, Leadup Universe
