KidLead - The Spirit of a Young Leader - SHHHH...

Young leaders are greatly influenced by the people in their lives. Sure it starts with parents, but it also includes teachers, coaches, church influences and adult friends of the family. Could we possibly be missing the boat regarding our influence in the kids' lives all around us?

From the book, KidLead by Alan E. Nelson... one of five areas that breaks the spirit of a young leader is: Poor Listening and Exclusion of Their Ideas.

Leaders typically have a lot of opinions. It's not that being opinionated makes you a leader. But leaders have opinions and ideas. When children convey their opinion openly and often, adults often squelch those expressions in the name of protecting the child from displaying characteristics such as arrogance, stubbornness or being too demanding. We might even call them out as not being team players. 

Children value having their voices heard. Who doesn't? When we trip them up on sharing their opinions and ideas, we often stymie the very leadership they were gifted by God to exhibit.

From the book, "Responding to the ideas of young leaders requires emotional intelligence. While we can't always provide ample time and attention for listening, when we consistently quiet our kids, exclude them from adult conversations, and dismiss their ideas as childish because they're young, we telegraph the idea that their natural gifting is not valued. By failing to reinforce their opinions, we communicate that their leadership is not valid. Literally, we're creating leader 'invalids.'"

OUCH! Have you been at all suspect in diminishing the leadership of a young person within your sphere of influence? At home? At church? At school? In sports? Next door? Suggestions on what you can do?