Who are potential leaders?
You know that:
___Leadership skills are learned.
___Nearly everyone is capable of being a leader at some time and place in her life.
___People with “natural leadership skills” – good communicators, initiators, risk takers, etc. – particularly need to be ready to be thrust into leadership.
Why look for potential leaders?
___You know that the right people are much more likely to emerge as leaders when they’ve had some experiences that make them feel capable.
Leadership development across the life span
___You’re aware of leadership development opportunities for children:
- Sports and games
- School, camp, and other institutional situations
- Community projects
- Letting children solve many of their own problems without adult intervention
- Modeling good leadership by treating children with respect while providing a structure in which they can operate safely
___You’re aware of leadership development opportunities for adolescents:
- Athletics
- Music and theater
- Youth groups and clubs
- Involvement in community and political issues
- Challenging outdoor activity
___You’re aware of leadership development opportunities for college students and other young adults:
- Entrepreneurship
- Politics
- Service learning
- Employment
- Government-sponsored service programs
- Non-profit and non-governmental organizations
___You’re aware of leadership development opportunities for parents and other adults:
- Community activism
- Organizations and associations
- Parenting
- Parenting-related experiences
- Volunteering
- Local politics
___You’re aware of leadership development opportunities for “elder statespersons”:
- Employment
- Organizations and associations
- Volunteering and community service
- Local politics
___You’re aware of leadership development opportunities for retired persons and seniors:
- Community service
- Advocacy
- Local politics
- Volunteering
Some general guideline for encouraging leadership development across the life span
___You ask people to take leadership positions
___You provide real-world opportunities
___You challenge people with reachable goals
___You provide training
___You build on success
___You provide peer support
___You provide an institutional structure for leadership development opportunities
___You provide models of effective leadership