Help your middle schooler develop leadership skills PDF Print E-mail
Many people think of a leader as one who gives direction. To some extent, that is true. But real leadership--a desirable character trait--has more to do with listening, learning and being an example.

Your child can develop leadership if she is:

* Caring. Effective leaders care. They look for someone who could use help. And then they step up.
* Open to new ideas. Leaders know they don't know it all. They always listen to others.
* Organized. Leaders plan ahead. They know that leaving projects to the last minute usually produces poor results.
* Optimistic. Leaders prepare. They trust the people they work with. They are enthusiastic. They expect things to go right and because of their leadership, things usually do.
* Flexible. Leaders don't get stuck in the rut of doing everything the same way every time. They are willing to try new things.

Reprinted with permission from the March 2010 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (Middle School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2010 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: Barbara A. Lewis, What Do You Stand For? For Teens: A Guide to Building Character, ISBN: 1-57542-029-5 (Free Spirit Publishing, www.freespirit.com).