Identifying and Developing Leadership Traits in Children

Identifying and Developing Leadership Traits in Children

March 1, 2014

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study is to explore if leadership traits identified in adolescence, can be used in a selection process for grooming future leaders. The purpose of the proposed study is to explore if potential adolescence leadership candidates, can be developed during childhood, leading to an overall successful leader in adulthood. This will be done by exploring trait theory, and successful leader personalities. The study will examine if the same traits found in successful adult leaders, were also found in child leaders. The data collected from studies involving gifted and talented children will be used. We will explore some of the common techniques in leadership development for children. We will decide if this development has the potential for success, and if it can be beneficial later in life.

INTRODUCTION

There been many attempts to study and understand what makes successful leaders. Perhaps the biggest hurdle is solely defining what successful leadership looks like. This is because there is almost an endless supply of definitions or leadership in research. (Vries, 1994) Webster’s dictionary would define leadership as: 1) the office, position or function of a leader, 2) the quality of character and personality giving a person the ability to gain the confidence of and lead others. 3) the people who serve as leaders of a group. Maj. Gen. John M. Scofield, would define leadership as: “The discipline which makes the soldiers of a free country reliable in battle is not to be gained by harsh or tyrannical treatment. On the contrary, such treatment is far more likely to destroy than to make an army. It is possible to impart instruction and to give commands in such a manner and such a tone of voice to inspire the soldier no feeling but an intense desire to obey, while the opposite manner and tone of voice cannot fail to excite strong resentment and a desire to disobey. The one...