Are you parenting the next President?
Learning to Lead
By Sue Washburn

So often this is the phrase used to describe an outgoing girl or guy who is the club president or captain of a sports team. But leadership is more than a position; it’s a way of life. Teaching kids about leadership isn’t about only heaping glory on the class presidents, sports stars and the kids who rule the playground. It’s about empowering every child by giving her the confidence, skills and tools of leadership. Leaders aren’t just born, they are made.

“Nobody is born with leadership,” explains Kathy Coll, Leadership Development Teacher at North Allegheny Intermediate School. “It’s something that has to be developed. Each time a child is put in a situation where he must speak and act for himself he is developing leadership. Selling cookies or participating in fundraisers can be a leadership opportunity if the parents let the kids do the work.”

Leadership isn’t a memorized skill like multiplication tables. Learning how to lead doesn’t mean sitting through a forty-five minute lecture. Instead, leadership skills are modeled and practiced in everyday life. Kids first learn to lead from their parents and other children. They see and respond to a variety of leadership styles, even around the dining room table. One family member may lead from a position of power and another by building consensus among several family members. There isn’t a single formula to teach a child leadership, but rather, leadership style is an outgrowth of the child’s personality.

“Teaching leadership challenges children to understand themselves %97 their values, personalities, skills, interests and dreams %97 and from these strengths they can develop an approach to life and leadership that is dependant on her own uniqueness,” explains Lauren Laschon, Middle School teacher at The Ellis School and a founder of the Ellis Leadership Academy.

Even though business is dumping millions of dollars into leadership training for new employees, formal leadership training for children and teens is a relatively new idea in Pittsburgh. In fact, only two of the 43 public schools in Allegheny County have a leadership class as part of the accredited curriculum.

While leadership opportunities exist in school clubs and sports as well is in religious youth groups and community organizations, only a handful of groups actively encourage the kids to be intentional about their leadership style and reflect on what they learn about leadership. Most parents don’t think about teaching leadership skills to their children.

“The concept of leadership development wasn’t around for most of today’s parents,” explains Pittsburgh Cares Executive Director Daniel Hogan. “Industry is spending a lot of money on leadership, but we can give kids advanced skills so they are ready when they enter the workforce.”

Kathy Risko, Senior Program Manager for Leadership Pittsburgh, Inc. says that leadership development is a good retention strategy for keeping young adults in the Pittsburgh work force.

“We always need to be thinking about the future of the city,” she explains. “You are never too young to learn leadership, graduate school can be too late.”

Leadership isn’t a prescribed list of skills, but rather a constellation of behaviors that can empower children to find their voice and pursue their passions with success.

Leadership Lesson #1 Integrity and Awareness. Effective leaders are clear about their purpose, values, strengths and the areas where they need additional help.

“The core of leadership development is in character development,” explains Dr. B. Jean Ferketish, Assistant Chancellor at the University of Pittsburgh and leadership instructor for the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. She says the US Army’s BE-KNOW-DO is an easy way to think about leadership.

Leaders first need to BE accountable, aware of their strengths and weaknesses, and clear about their values. They also need to KNOW or be willing to learn enough information to complete the task at hand. They need to know what to DO, that is, how to run a meeting, organize and motivate people, and where to find resources.

Parents can model integrity and awareness by talking about their own experiences at work or in daily life. They can help their child recognize their gifts by appropriately praising what he does well and talking about areas in which he struggles.

Leadership Lesson #2 Respecting Others. Leadership can’t be done in a vacuum. Leaders need the help and support of others to be successful. Learning to work with a variety of people is important to learning to lead. Lynne Garfinkel, Executive Director of Strong Women, Strong Girls of Pittsburgh says their program is built on helping girls become world citizens. She says one of the best ways to learn about people and culture is through service learning.

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