The Importance of Early Leadership Development
Children are naturally curious, imaginative, and enthusiastic. These traits enable them to create creative stories and ask questions without fear of judgment, which are essential for building authentic leadership skills. As Mercedes Jahn, co-founder of the Jahn Institute, explains, “When a child is listened to, they are being empowered, and a powerful seed is sown for creating a leader—not just in the corporate world, but in their personal lives as well.”
Key Strategies for Teaching Leadership to Children
Instilling leadership practices and values in children offers advantages, as adults often lose curiosity and gain fear of judgment, leading to stressed or ineffective leaders. Mario Elsner, founder of Business Game Changers, emphasizes that “In the corporate world, we compete against each other and forget the importance of caring for our teams. Instead, with children, when a friend wins, they are applauded or supported. Sometimes as leaders, we need to revert to being the child who wasn’t afraid.”
Four Consejos for Fostering Leadership in Children
- Validate emotions: Allow children to express their feelings intensely without minimizing them. This helps them manage anger and avoid frustration, repression, or emotional outbursts that could negatively impact their mental health.
- Encourage decision-making: Let children make decisions within their reach, such as choosing clothes or selecting a sport. This builds confidence and teaches them to understand the consequences of their choices, which is crucial for developing resilience.
- Respect their authenticity: Avoid criticizing a child’s personality, as this can lead to self-comparison and limit their unique qualities. Encourage individuality instead.
- Be consistent: Children are perceptive and learn from their surroundings. Parents should model the behavior they want their children to emulate, teaching tolerance, compassion, service, and respect for others.
Adults Can Learn from Children, Too
As children grow, they outgrow certain childhood behaviors, like fear of the dark. However, Mario Elsner highlights that there are valuable lessons adults can learn from children. For instance, when a child doesn’t understand something, they ask questions without hesitation. This curiosity and willingness to ask for help are crucial for leaders, as it dispels the notion that they must know everything.
Another lesson from children is celebrating others’ achievements, especially within their close circle. Recognizing team members’ accomplishments fosters happiness and commitment among colleagues. Additionally, children’s frequent changes in games demonstrate the importance of adapting to new situations when feeling uncomfortable. Adults, however, often struggle to leave their comfort zones and may perpetuate unfavorable circumstances out of fear of change.
Key Questions and Answers
- How can we teach leadership to children? By instilling practices and values focused on leadership, we can help children develop essential skills before they become adults.
- What can adults learn from children? Adults can learn the importance of curiosity, asking questions, celebrating others’ successes, and adapting to new situations from children.
