Wednesday; March 30

What are we teaching our children about leadership? Now, before we go any further in this discussion, we have to define leadership. To me, a leader is someone who has a positive influence on others. Leaders infuse their talents and personality with wisdom and knowledge to help others be the best they can be. Are there others who use their abilities to manipulate or bully other people into doing what they want done? Sure, but I don’t consider them leaders. They may make disciples of themselves, but they aren’t truly leading people.

Now, back to the question at hand … are we teaching our young people to lead? Are we showing them how to help others become the best they can be? Are they generating a positive aura that leads people to reach their potential? This can be done by modeling good behavior and teaching the skills necessary to encourage the people around them. However, we can also teach them how to be effective bullies and manipulators. When they hear us say that we must win at all costs, we diminish their ability to lead effectively. When they see us use other people for our own personal gain, we provide them with a false sense of what it means to be in authority.

Children often learn leadership lessons by watching those closest to them. Are they seeing true leadership in us?

Think About It!

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