Recently I read an article on The Open Forum, 101 Tips from Small Business Bloggers and was particularly impressed with a quote from Seth Godin:
“Leadership is scarce because few people are willing to go through the discomfort required to lead. It’s uncomfortable to stand up in front of strangers. It’s uncomfortable to propose an idea that might fail. It’s uncomfortable to challenge the status quo. It’s uncomfortable to resist the urge to settle. If you’re not uncomfortable in your work as a leader, it’s almost certain you’re not reaching your potential as a leader.”
— Seth Godin, Seth’s Blog
I got to thinking, are we teaching our teens leadership as part of their homeschool? As a part of teaching the entrepreneurial mindset, there are few traits more important than leadership.
According to this definition, if our children are comfortable with being uncomfortable, or at least understand that it’s normal to feel that way in leadership situations, then they will also have the tools to continue to stand for what they believe, long after they’ve left the nest.
Its so easy to get focused on learning all the facts and figures that brings those surreal ACT and SAT scores home, but do they have what it takes to succeed…on their own terms? Or will they end up doing what ever is necessary in life under the popular ‘feel-good’ theology of the day? Hopefully not, but as a parent of 3 grown children, hindsight is definitely best sight. There are so many situations that have presented themselves that this momma thinks, ‘we never talked about that…what if…” that it’s easy to see what I missed – after the fact. Thankfully with my children, so far- so good, and arguably a solid fou
ndation tends to cover a lot of territory, but sometimes the winds blow hard, and really tries those weak spots!
Teaching leadership as a part of your homeschool may not be something you’ve thought of, or maybe you have. It is so much more than simply a good business skill. The ability to take the reins in a situation that requires them to step out of their comfort zone isn’t easy. If they know ahead of time that those uneasy feelings are perfectly normal, and have had the opportunity to practice, even once, to experience the deep satisfaction that comes from pushing through, then they are much more likely to try it again. In this generation that has been raised by the radical baby boomers, chances are there will always be someone else willing to step up, but not always with the desired outcome.
As a part of teaching the entrepreneurial mindset, keep it in the back of your mind to recognize that life event that could provide them with a chance to push through uncomfortable feelings and step up to a challenge that will stretch them. They may need a great deal of encouragement and you may even need to push them, just don’t push them down. If they aren’t ready yet, there will be another time, I guarantee it. Life tends to present more ways to move outside of our comfort zones than we would like!
One way to create an opportunity is to enroll in a Toastmaster’s class for teens. Several years ago my daughter had the opportunity to be in such a situation, and it was great. Communicators for Christ is very similar, and can be found in most areas. However, since some of the best leadership opportunities for a Christian often involves a group of non-Christians, Toastmasters is a good testing ground.
Anyone else know of a situation that taught their teen how to push past those uncomfortable feelings into a leadership role? How did it turn out? What would you have done different?
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Really like the quote from Seth Godin. So true that to lead we need to become uncomfortable-push ourselves and see just what we are made of. Lfe is always one of self discovery if we are not complacent with ourselves or our children. Truly we’ll never know who/what we can become unless we visit those uncomfortable places and become familiar with them. Then we can lead others on their own path of self discovery.