Identifying Young Leaders CADA Workshop with alan e nelson, ed.d

Identifying Young Leaders

CADA Workshopwith alan e nelson, ed.d.

If you want to change the world, focus on leaders. If you want to change leaders, focus on them when they’re young.

Naval Postgraduate School

• 7 Indicators of Leadership Aptitude in Kids• 5 Ways Parents Stunt Leadership Growth• 5 Ideas to Grow Great Leaders @ Home• 4 Stages in Young Leader Development

Where We’re Headed:• 4 Reasons to Identify Student Leaders• 7 Ways to Estimate Organizational Aptitude• How to Double the # of your Student Leaders

4 Reasons to Identify Social Influencers

Maximize your immediate & long term impact

You’ll cover your activities’ responsibilities.

Most activities directors fail to tap the leadership potential in their schools

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2You’ll create a culture of leading.

This expands to ASB, clubs, athletics, classrooms, & community.

3You’ll focus on true org leaders vs. the popular.

Half of student governments: popular students who don’t think organizationally

4 You’ll reduce bullying & negative social behaviors.

Side effects of creating positive peer pressure among natural influencers

•Categories of Leadership

Personal: responsible, high self-esteem, ethical, good citizen, confident, works from strengths

Managerial: able to facilitate smaller group projects, maintain existing processes

Organizational: able to cast vision, lead others in problem solving, catalyze organizational change

•W

orking Definition

Leadership is the process of helping people accomplish together, what they could not as individuals.

Leaders are those who get leadership going.

RECOGNIZING LEADERSHIP APTITUDE IN KIDS & YOUTH

Identifying Future Lions Early

Can Everyone Be A Leader?Howard Gardner (Harvard), author of “Multiple Intelligences,” notes leadership as a domain in interpersonal intelligence

Cultural Blindness to Young Leaders

William Damon (Stanford) says that the American value of equality, especially in our educational system, overlooks the unique energy and creativity of young leaders.

The Ear Effect… Peers listen to and seek input from the teen.

Leadership Aptitude Indicators

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2 The Goal Effect… The teen initiates goals & is not satisfied with status quo.

Leadership Aptitude Indicators

3 The Boss Effect…

The student is opinionated, bossy and accused of being disruptive at times.

Leadership Aptitude Indicators

4 The Negotiator Effect… The youth is good at presenting his/her ideas and having others accept them.

Leadership Aptitude Indicators

5 The Organizer Effect… The youth is good at organizing kids & peers in activities.

Leadership Aptitude Indicator

6 The Captain Effect… Adults tend to select the youth to be in charge.

Leadership Aptitude Indicators

7The Pillar Effect… The youth stands up for his/her beliefs; is not prone to peer pressure.

Leadership Aptitude Indicators

Click icon to add picture

Free Social Influence survey @www.kidlead.com

•Double Student Leaders

Elect by Nominations: Assess aptitude; require teacher/student nominees as in real life.

Develop Ad Hoc Roles: Go after true influencers; don’t let formal roles determine how many are involved.

Do Leader Training: Sharpen the axe. Don’t just plan events; develop leaders.

Discuss With A Partner

Which of these indicators stood out to you and/or were unexpected?

What’s 1 thing I plan to use?

Robert Epstein, PhD

Adolescence is a recent social construct, so that we infantalize youth today who are very capable leaders.

Additional Best Practices

• Don’t compete with handouts– Offer to provide PPT notes at end of

presentation or other handouts– Only provide what is needed/helpful prior or

they may read vs. listen

Systematic desensitization

Rational Emotive Therapy (RET)

Focusing on communication vs. performance (speak “to” vs. “at”)

Reducing Anxiety Techniques

Stop by the KidLead booth (817):