[July 22, 2016] In Part 1 of this series I pointed out some of the important things that kids should never do.1 In Part 2, I addressed some of the opportunities we should give children we are teaching leadership.2 Today, I’ll provide a few how to techniques for kids so they can develop the right skills for the greatest impact. Any teacher/leader who sees their efforts pay off quickly are more likely to keep doing what they’re doing.
I was asked the other day by a long-time friend about my time with kids; after I’d retired from the U.S. Army. Why, he asked, did I spend time with kids so that I could do the “hands-on” work to teach them about leadership? The one thing I missed was being around military service members; those who are motivated to do something meaningful. I’m drawn to being around folks who are anxious to succeed and who have their heart in the game.
Nearly all kids are happy to learn and as long as the teacher is not boring or stupid (yep, that’s the right term), then the kids will learn. Now, my friend is certainly not ignorant of the benefits of teaching children about leadership so I shared my Program of Instruction with him. Yesterday he read my blog and decided to call me to say thanks. He’s been really enjoying his time with the kids.
Over the course of my instruction to kids, I introduce a number of how to ways that helps get things done. These are basic concepts. My thinking focuses on how to teach in the most efficient and effective way I can. The kids I have are only with me about one hour per day during the weekdays and only occasionally on weekends.
Here are some simple how to techniques I’m using:
- How to give and receive feedback: Each child is taught the advantages and disadvantages of both positive and negative feedback and when best to employ them. Learning not to take criticism personally or to give it without trying to hurt the other person is a special challenge with great rewards.
- How to give rewards to others and the appropriateness of the reward itself: One might think that giving a trinket (like a trophy or money) is valued highly but anyone who has spent time with people knows otherwise. Learning that a simple pat on the back or “job well done” comment is the best incentive of all.
- How to gain and maintain a positive attitude: Kids are naturally happy. Teaching them how to regain a positive attitude when things are not going well for them and overcoming adversity is time well spent. Children are quick learners but a positive attitude requires a lot of practice and reward for showing it.
- How to form a team, develop its identity and pride: Practical exercises with rotating team leader positions are the easiest way to teach teamwork. It has always amazed me that kids are very quick to pick up on the advantages of forming and identifying with teams.
- How to listen and communicate better: Listening to what a person means and not necessarily what they are saying is one of the most difficult tasks for a teacher of leadership. The next most difficult is teaching them how to communicate in a more precise, clear way. We begin with language itself and talk the disadvantages of using cuss words, acronyms, words with multiple meanings, slang, and heavy accents. Tone and inflection is also reviewed.
One of my main methodological goals in teaching young kids is to create as much structure and predictability as I reasonably can make my training. The kids will enjoy it more and keep coming back. That’s why I like teaching kids about leadership.
Of course by now we know that children can learn leadership.
This is the last of the three-part series but will not be the final say on teaching kids about leadership.
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- https://www.theleadermaker.com/can-children-learn-leadership-part-1/
- https://www.theleadermaker.com/can-children-learn-leadership-part-2/