Instilling Leadership Qualities in Your Children

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a post on leadership qualities is timely and in order. Our children are the hope of the future and as parents, teachers, role models and mentors, it’s our responsibility to give them the “best that we’ve got!”

Here are 6 ways to instill leadership qualities in your kids.

Set the Example

Leadership qualities are a great skill set to have. And it is important to recognize that leadership begins at home but doesn’t end under the same roof. Make it a point to find projects where you can emphasize doing good for others in the community. Discuss the importance of “giving back”, collecting items to donate, feeding the hungry and doing small acts of daily kindness.

Introduce Your Children to Leaders

If you have the chance, allow your kids to meet impactful individuals who are making an impact. Point out leaders who work in your local community, and bring attention to those in the world who are making a difference, big and small.

Teach Your Child to Be a Communicator

Knowing how to communicate with others is an ongoing, important and lifelong skill. Children are instinctively curious and a parent or role model can encourage them to express their feelings by simply asking them questions and listening and responding to their answer. Another way to promote communication skills is to encourage your child to write a thoughtful note, share a kind word, send an email to someone in support of what they are doing in the community. All of these small skills teach your child how to value and build strong bonds with others. Starting early sets a habit in motion and it’s never too late to start a good routine.

Help them Learn the Skill of Compromise and Collaborate

We all know not everything will go our way. Look for opportunities to teach your child how to be a part of a team, how to ask thoughtful questions, how to listen attentively and come up with a solution. Start on a small scale such as how they have to work together on their soccer team or solve a problem on the playground. Studies show children must be taught to collaborate and learning through doing is an important component. “At its best, collaboration in the classroom can help students think more deeply and creatively about a subject and develop more empathy for others’ perspectives. At its worst, group tasks can deteriorate into awkward silences, arguments—or frustration for the one child who ends up doing everyone else’s work.” 

Discuss the Different Meanings of Leadership

It’s easy to feel defeated when you compare yourself to someone on tv or the news that seems larger than life. Give your child examples of what leadership looks like and what they are doing that influences change. Discuss how every small act is important.

Help Your Kids Turn that Frown Upside Down

It’s important to teach your kids that not every game will result in a win, and also, how to be a gracious lose. Being a sore loser is not a habit that is valued or admired. (Adults can use the same tips!) It’s your job to teach them how to accept and handle defeat.

A good example of this is when a child falls behind in a board game; it’s not uncommon for them to want to quit. Use the opportunity to teach them how to lose gracefully. This will encourage good sportsmanship and go a long way in building character. It may be tempting to always let your child win. But an occasional loss is an important training ground for how to handle defeat and anger. Managing anger and regulating emotions build mentally strong kids. Empower your child by giving them specific steps to manage their emotions.

Watch Diane on Fox 7 Austin, Good Day Austin, discussing leadership skills in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

You may also like 5 Challenging Experiences That Strengthen Your Leadership Skills. For more of Diane’s etiquette tips, read her posts on Inc., subscribe to her articles on Huff Post, “like” The Protocol School of Texas on Facebook, and follow her on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. Buy her new book, Modern Etiquette for a Better Life.