Description:
The development of leadership is the development and synthesis of characteristics such as kindness, intelligence, problem solving, communication, cooperation, honesty, fairness, flexibility, encouragement, and confidence that will lead to powerful leadership in HA children.
Why is this important?
Developing leadership potential in High Ability students is important because it is often an area that is overlooked in the development of the whole high ability child. It is also important because the gifts and talents of HA students can be multiplied innumerably when their leadership skills are strongly developed.
Tips/Suggestions:
- Provide an enriched environment that offers opportunities for children to acquire interests and the insights and skills that characterize leaders.
- Provide the child with support and encouragement as they participate in a wide variety of home and community activities.
- Encourage the child to be involved in the selection, planning, execution, and evaluation of family activities ranging from a day at the zoo to a vacation overseas.
- Discuss and debate about current events and other topics that foster independent thinking and nurture leadership potential.
- Offer mutual respect, objectivity, empathy, and understanding. These qualities are highly valued by gifted young people, particularly those who need a safe place to test their ideas.
- Allow the child to make mistakes and self-evaluate. This will enhance future decision-making skills and the self-evaluation processes needed for leadership success.
- Help your child understand that a good leader lets others have ideas and input and doesn’t always make all the decisions
- Share with them the aspects of leadership—delegating, assisting, helping, facilitating
- Talk about the differences between bossiness and cooperation