Develop Leadership Skills
in Children
The term leadership skills refers to a series of skills that allow people to succeed in management and directorial positions. When it comes to learning leadership skills, kids are in a winning position, as they can be taught without pressure and guided through the process at their own pace.
Instructions
1. Focus on developing communication skills. Good leaders are good communicators, and this can be encouraged from an early age by working on reading and speaking. If your kids can't read yet, take over the duties and work on their listening skills. You can encourage this by reading something to them and then asking them to relate the story back to you. If your children are old enough to read, ask them to read you a story. Also, make sure that you hold conversations with your kids. Ask questions and expect answers, no matter how silly they are, as this means that they are listening and learning to interact.
2. Encourage independence within safe limits. You can't expect a five-year-old to make his own breakfast, but he should be able to pour his own cereal, set his place on the table or take over the day's menu. Encouraging independent play is also important. Turn off the TV and give your kids access to interactive games and toys that develop the imagination, such as building sets, question and answer books and old-fashioned, plain toys. If the words "I'm bored" come into play, let the kids find a way to entertain themselves rather than offering a solution. This also helps develop the imagination.
3. Instill confidence in your kids. When something new is accomplished, praise it, whether it is a new development at school, learning tie their own shoes or reading faster or with less mistakes. Small steps mean a lot at that age and kids will revel in accomplishments that may not seem all that important to you. Developing self-esteem is essential to achieving leadership skills, as leaders need to come through as confident, even in the face of danger or despair.
4. If your children say that they can do something for themselves, let them do it. The attempt is more important than the result. This goes for almost anything, from setting up the table to cleaning up the bedroom. Even if the results are less than satisfying, praise your children and resist the urge to fix things yourself.
5. Encourage organization. Leaders need to know manage their time and guide others towards a common goal. You can encourage this by giving your children the power to make decisions. For example, older kids can take part in the planning and organization of a trip, deciding change or decorate a room or choosing their own after-school activities. You can also use these opportunities to help yours kid develop problem-solving skills, as they may have to make choices to meet budget, time or environmental constraints.
