How do we inspire and support young leaders? What can we do?
Our future depends on positive leadership, and as older Americans we have a responsibility to nurture young people to be admirable, honest, and life-enriching leaders. What can we do?
Healthy Living
The best leaders have great energy and best possible health. Leaders who suffer from addiction or other unnecessary health conditions often don't have the freedom of mind or body to lead well. Yet, we do find that leaders who have suffered and dealt with health conditions outside of their control, often have the stamina, perseverance, humility, and sensitivity that makes them great leaders.
If we want to nurture great leaders, we have to provide best possible health care, including mental health services, to all youth. We also have to promote healthy environments and healthy food--this will give youth the strength and energy to lead well.
Quality, holistic education
When leaders are well educated, they lead better. A great education provides people with a strong foundation of knowledge, super skills, and the ability to conceptualize, communicate, and collaborate. We need well-educated leaders because people with a good education lead better. We have to support quality schools in order to develop strong leaders for our future.
Good Character
To create opportunities for good leadership, we have to exemplify and promote good character. This simple grade school lesson names elements of good character. It's a good idea for all of us to think about our character, and then to promote good character with the young people we work with, lead, teach, parent, and mentor.
Mentoring
Young people gain positive leadership skills and experiences via mentors. If you can volunteer to be a mentor to young people in some way that develops their leadership skills, that's positive. As a leadership mentor, it is essential to read articles about apt leadership. It is also positive to offer youth the opportunity to study formidable leaders throughout the world and over time via biographies, autobiographies, and articles.
Older Americans will serve our country well by finding opportunities to support leadership development in youth throughout the country. We have to make sure that our schools and community agencies create opportunities for this leadership development too. This is a promising path for our country's future. We can do this.