[May 14, 2016] Boys and girls are different. Surprise … that statement will generate controversy in a politically correct climate; but everyone knows it to be true. It follows that to teach leadership to boys involves different techniques. Turning boys into leaders means starting at a younger age than girls and requiring boys to be more actively, directly involved than girls.
Hearsay? Not quite. Anyone who has been involved in teaching for a long time, regardless of the topic, can attest to a pattern of boys needing more direct stimulation to learn. Call it stylistic or differences demanded by biology; it does matter that boyhood demands a different approach when being taught leadership.
Leadership as a formal topic is not taught in our schools but it is practiced in school sports and other formal social activities that require teamwork (e.g., school clubs, community projects). Some educators dispute my claim and say that the problem is that leadership is taught but in a ad hoc manner.1 Irrespective of this argument, teaching leadership in schools has historically not been effective.
The first step in turning boys into leaders is to recognize that techniques used are different from that of teaching girls. When boys and girls are taught as a group, the challenge is greater but not insurmountable as long as a mixture of techniques is utilized. Most school sports programs are segregated by gender, so the leadership program can be more easily geared to either boys or girls and a great place to begin a formal program on leader development.
The next step in turning boys into leaders is to be aware that boys are more likely to use their leadership skills than girls and boys are quicker to recognize its value. This is certainly a broad statement but true nonetheless. Every effort, however, should be afforded to all in providing the same opportunities to learn.
The last step here, but not the last in teaching leadership, is that boys must directly experience leadership roles beginning with the basics to gradually advanced familiarity. Typically this is done by assigning boys to various and rotating leadership positions where they are held responsible for measurable outcomes. This is particularly effective and has the side-benefit of increasing their self-esteem and academic performance.
Boys and girls are different. In part 2 of this series, I will provide a more detailed list of how boys can be taught effective leadership skills.
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See also:
- Turning Kids into Leaders https://www.theleadermaker.com/turning-kids-leaders/
- Turning Boys into Mean https://www.theleadermaker.com/turning-boys-into-men/