I took 19 pages of notes as I read through Elmore’s book (2001) on nurturing leadership skills in children but let me highlight a few thoughts. This book is filled with illustrative examples of young leaders accomplishing significant achievements in their lives. The pages of this text provide parents substantial ideas and suggestions for developing and instilling leadership in their children. Here is a quick run through of the content with hopefully enough salt to make you thirsty for a deeper read.
Elmore introduces much of his perspective of leadership development through a look at culture and how we “fit” into the times in which we live. He presents three basic views of culture: 1. Isolation: culture is evil and must be avoided. 2. Saturation: culture is everything and we must blend with it. 3. Interpretation: culture is useful and must be employed to communicate values and truth to the younger generation. He concludes that we must engage the culture, explore the culture (learn from it) and employ the culture to explain truth.
Practical ideas and suggestions is a major focus within Elmore’s writings. He suggests seven ways for parents to stay relevant and four roles a parent must fill in helping their child navigate through the pitfalls and potholes of our culture. A parent must learn to be a Host, a Doctor, a Counselor, and a Tour Guide for his/her child. I love the following story taken from the section on becoming a Counselor,
“Katie (7 yrs old) asked her dad if she could play with her friend next door. Dad replied it would be fine as long as she was home by 6:00 pm. Unfortunately, Katie was not home by 6:00 pm. Dad grew a little upset when he had to call and ask that Katie be sent home. When she got home a half-hour late, her dad said, ‘Didn’t you hear me tell you to come home by 6:00?’
‘Yes’, she replied, ‘but my friend’s doll broke.’
Her dad mellowed a bit, ‘Oh, I see. And you stayed to help her fix it?’
‘No’, Katie whispered. ‘I stayed to help her cry.’” (p. 51-52)
Elmore then spends some time defining leadership in terms of a formula: Character + Perspective + Courage + Favor = Healthy Effective Leadership. He explains the formula in detail using the following basic concepts: 1. Character – enables a leader to do what is right, even when it is difficult. 2. Perspective – enables a leader to see and understand what must happen to reach a goal. Anyone can possess character. Leaders, however, think differently than followers do. Leaders see before others do and see beyond what others do. 3. Courage – enables the leader to initiate a plan and to risk stepping out toward the goal. 4. Favor - enables the leader to attract and empower others to join them in the cause. After exploring each element of his formula, the author provides some steps the child can take to develop his/her leadership skills.
The book delineates five Myths about leadership, five skills that leaders should possess, six goals for young leaders, and six stages of leadership development. The book closes with a summary of leadership development by looking at the concept of crossing the seven seas (C’s) of leadership: character, compassion, courage, competency, convictions, commitment, and charisma.
This book is filled with understandable leadership theory and practical ideas for families – a recommended read for parents of younger children and educators desiring to instill leadership qualities in their children/students.
Elmore, T. 2001. Nurturing the leader within your child. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Elmore introduces much of his perspective of leadership development through a look at culture and how we “fit” into the times in which we live. He presents three basic views of culture: 1. Isolation: culture is evil and must be avoided. 2. Saturation: culture is everything and we must blend with it. 3. Interpretation: culture is useful and must be employed to communicate values and truth to the younger generation. He concludes that we must engage the culture, explore the culture (learn from it) and employ the culture to explain truth.
Practical ideas and suggestions is a major focus within Elmore’s writings. He suggests seven ways for parents to stay relevant and four roles a parent must fill in helping their child navigate through the pitfalls and potholes of our culture. A parent must learn to be a Host, a Doctor, a Counselor, and a Tour Guide for his/her child. I love the following story taken from the section on becoming a Counselor,
“Katie (7 yrs old) asked her dad if she could play with her friend next door. Dad replied it would be fine as long as she was home by 6:00 pm. Unfortunately, Katie was not home by 6:00 pm. Dad grew a little upset when he had to call and ask that Katie be sent home. When she got home a half-hour late, her dad said, ‘Didn’t you hear me tell you to come home by 6:00?’
‘Yes’, she replied, ‘but my friend’s doll broke.’
Her dad mellowed a bit, ‘Oh, I see. And you stayed to help her fix it?’
‘No’, Katie whispered. ‘I stayed to help her cry.’” (p. 51-52)
Elmore then spends some time defining leadership in terms of a formula: Character + Perspective + Courage + Favor = Healthy Effective Leadership. He explains the formula in detail using the following basic concepts: 1. Character – enables a leader to do what is right, even when it is difficult. 2. Perspective – enables a leader to see and understand what must happen to reach a goal. Anyone can possess character. Leaders, however, think differently than followers do. Leaders see before others do and see beyond what others do. 3. Courage – enables the leader to initiate a plan and to risk stepping out toward the goal. 4. Favor - enables the leader to attract and empower others to join them in the cause. After exploring each element of his formula, the author provides some steps the child can take to develop his/her leadership skills.
The book delineates five Myths about leadership, five skills that leaders should possess, six goals for young leaders, and six stages of leadership development. The book closes with a summary of leadership development by looking at the concept of crossing the seven seas (C’s) of leadership: character, compassion, courage, competency, convictions, commitment, and charisma.
This book is filled with understandable leadership theory and practical ideas for families – a recommended read for parents of younger children and educators desiring to instill leadership qualities in their children/students.
Elmore, T. 2001. Nurturing the leader within your child. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
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