One of the best ways to help children shine their brightest is to provide them with positive examples of confidence,creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration. In fact, instilling these qualities in children is a great way to arm them with the leadership skills they’ll need to make their own way in the world. That’s a tremendous responsibility, but Major League Mommy has some easy strategies to help you inspire critical leadership skills in the next generation.
Model Good Behavior
Many parents live a double life as leaders, balancing work with parenting and fun. Setting a good example for your child will be critical in explaining behavior, and here’s how to go about doing so.
Children learn by imitation, so offer good examples of effective leadership in work and life that your child can pick up on.
Set a good example for your children by following your dream and seizing the day. For example, if you’ve been thinking of getting a business degree to boost your career prospects, now is the time to do so. Your little one will see leadership in its prime!
Tell your child what you are doing and why you are doing it so they can learn by example.
Encourage Clear, Effective Communication
In addition to modeling behavior, you can offer valuable life lessons on leadership by furthering your child’s communication skills. Here are a few ways to improve communication:
Let your kids make decisions, such as deciding which movie to watch or which game to play.
Allow your kids to practice confident communication with strangers by ordering for themselves or talking to servers or staff.
Build their negotiation skills to teach them never to give up on something easily.
Teach the Benefits of Teamwork
Adults are required to work together all the time, and since teamwork is built almost entirely on communication, it’s never too early to teach kids the value of community. Also, offering your child some safe opportunities to take on leadership roles in a social context will inspire confidence and empathy, which will pay off greatly down the road.
Teach your child to see things from others’ points of view.
Allow them to take on a job or a leadership role in school to learn first-hand what leadership entails.
Today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders, and as a parent, you will be instrumental in fostering that leadership spirit! So be sure to impart the valuable lessons of leadership to your children. It truly is a worthwhile investment in their future.
You don’t have to feel alone through the trials and tribulations of parenting. Major League Mommy is a safe space for you to receive guidance and unlock the best version of yourself. If you’d like to collaborate, let me know!
Briana Marie is a mental health and financial literacy advocate, and founder of Major League Mommy. In her spare time, Briana enjoys yoga, travel, and spending time with her Husband and two daughters.
