5 Ways Parents Can Turn Their Kids into Leaders
Being a leader is a trait that every parent loves to see in their child. We want our kids to be in control of their life (after they move out of the house of course) – and make their own choices while taking responsibility for them. It’s a parents natural instinct to have a desire of making the absolute best of our kids. However, is everyone able to grow up and become the boss or the captain in every scenario? Not everyone can become a leader in everything they do. That is life – but can you act like a leader even if you aren’t one at the moment? Absolutely. Many people are happy and successful whether or not they are a leader. Leadership skills not only help us become a good leader, they also can teach how to set good leadership examples and how to work with leaders while not being one at all.
The true leaders are the ones who are the first to step up and offer their hand when someone needs something, the first to speak up when someone is being mistreated, or the first to figure out how to solve a problem. Sure, the kids with leadership skills will be the first to become bosses and politicians and the movers and shakers of the world. But they don’t get that way if they’re afraid to speak up.
The true leaders are the ones who are the first to step up and offer their hand when someone needs something, the first to speak up when someone is being mistreated, or the first to figure out how to solve a problem. Sure, the kids with leadership skills will be the first to become bosses and politicians and the movers and shakers of the world. But they don’t get that way if they’re afraid to speak up. In fact, a lot of us are afraid to. So, how do we make sure our kids develop leadership skills?
Here are 5 ways you can help:
- Set an example. Show your kids that you can balance all of your roles. You don’t have to be perfect but the kids won’t notice that the laundry took too long or the dog didn’t get walked or that you left part of your work to-do list undone. The key is to show up to those roles and keep going.
- Encourage teamwork. Kids need to learn to work and play with others. Keeping their interests in mind, sign them up for team sports or extracurricular activities that encourage groups. If they aren’t into sports, look into scouting or school band.
- Negotiate. The art of compromise is key to leadership. When your child asks for something, don’t say “yes” or “no” – make an offer. Let them counter, and so on until you come to an agreement. Even if you would have said yes, this teaches them valuable skills, so try to resist!
- Teach decision-making. As often as possible, give your children two or three choices. If they can’t immediately choose, then help them weigh the pros and cons. This way, they’ll learn how to make informed choices, and they’ll gain the confidence needed to continue to make bigger and bigger decisions.
- Practice communication. Instead of speaking for your children, allow them to do it for themselves. They can order for themselves and ask questions about menu items in restaurants. If there is a problem with their order, they can say so. If they want a toy, they can ask the salesperson. When they’re doing this, teach them active listening skills too. They should make eye contact and affirm what they’ve understood.
Do you want your kids to become leaders? Do you want them to exhibit the fearlessness that only a true leader displays? Use these five tips to make sure you give them the skills they need to become world-changing leaders. Once they’ve got these mastered, they can take over from there!
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