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Student Leadership: A Welcome Emerging Trend

Most schools believe that they are grooming tomorrow's leaders. The education system has not created any special curriculum to promote leadership qualities in students. However, thankfully, educationists are taking a more positive approach to this aspect.

Catch Them Young - Student Training Promise Good Results

The schools that have incorporated leadership training and exercise in their curriculum have shown excellent results in studies as well. It seems like there is a strong connection between student leadership skills and their capacity to perform well in their studies.

To be a leader you need to possess certain inherent qualities the most important of which is character (one of the 5 Cs of a leader). A person who has character will always try to do the right thing in any circumstances. Hence, the students who are trained in leadership skills tend to give excellent performances in everything they do.

There are many ways to promote and nurture student leadership. Some of the successful examples are:

• Fundraisers for charity purposes or school improvement
• Awareness campaigns against pollution, greenhouse effect or any other environmental issue
• Organizing inter-schools competitions (sports, literary, etc.)

Student leadership as adult leadership can be taught through repeated training programs. However, the best way to promote student leadership traits is through action and example. Children catch on faster when they are showed in action what should be done. Competitiveness comes naturally to children and transforming this energy into leadership traits needs just a bit extra attention on the part of the teacher as well as parents. Children need to be encouraged to believe that they can; they have the capability to change themselves and others.

In order to promote and nurture student leadership, here are some tips that you may find useful:

• Organize the kids in groups without leaders; let the leadership come from within. After a few attempts you will find that the team is following the 'orders' of someone - that someone is a born leader.
• Regularly organize inter-school, inter-class or inter-group competitions; leadership often emerges from the will to excel in a field.
• From time to time give the students a project and allow them to carry it out from beginning to end; keep the project on track with close supervision; however allow them to make their mistakes. Leadership always comes from experience.

Whether you are a teacher or a parent, make all efforts possible to promote leadership qualities in your child. Catch them young - they will make successful adults.

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