It’s a well known maxim-youths are the leaders of tomorrow. But then to be able to lead, the future leaders must first be equipped with the essential skills that will enable them become better leaders than the ones we currently have all around us. After all, the future should always be better in every aspect compared to what currently obtains. And that is what posts like this hope to achieve- to introduce them teenagers to the basic skills they need for effective leadership. Trust me, most of these skills are typically everyday relationship skills; things as basic as being friendly to people and being able to remember other people’s name etc.
Now we’re going to talk a bit about the need to remember people’s names. As you already know, we meet new people every, most of whom you may likely meet again and so will need to remember. And considering the fact that a person’s name is like music to their ears, you cannot afford not to be able to remember the names of your acquaintances. This is especially important for someone who wants to become a leader; it’s needful for you to become an expert at remembering names. There is nothing as irritating to me personally as someone who is unable to remember my name especially after two times of telling it to them. I’m sure many people feel the same way. So learn to remember your friends’ names because your ability to do so would not only endear you to the people around you but also gives a glimpse to your level of mental maturity and how well you sincerely care about others.
Moving on then, every teenager must endeavour to learn about the qualities of good leaders and ensure to emulate such qualities too. There are many of such qualities that make people great effective leaders. Learn these qualities and then begin to practice them right now in order to make them become a part and parcel of you overtime. Some of such skills include Public Speaking. Every leader needs to be able to stand confidently before a crowd and speak convincingly to them. Indeed, the ability to persuade people -through crafty speeches- to do what you want them to do (which must be right things must I say…), are needful for effective leadership. Therefore, learn Public Speaking as well as the ability to persuade others.
Train yourself to be confident. Every leader needs to be confident and not easily swayed by the whims and caprices of others. Seriously, you can’t lead flies if you are by no means confident of your capabilities as a person. Those whom you must lead need to see you exude confidence before they can even entrust you with any form of leadership position. That said, any teenager who wishes to become a leader must first develop self confidence and the ability to make their views heard [loud and clear] in spite of the very many differing opinions that will certainly abound. Therefore, learn to have the courage to take action in spite of your fears. And this can be achieved overtime by starting now.
As an aspiring leader, you must also learn to develop clear cut Vision/Mission and be able to plan. Leaders are the ones who usually come up with the vision. Their vision is what makes others to follow them. Therefore, learn to do this by taking initiative, planning your own small events and coming up with new ideas all the time.
Leadership is an interesting thing, and whether or not you like it, it is teenagers like you that will take up the helms of affairs sometime soon. So the sooner you learn to become an effective leader the better. Moreover, you wouldn’t want a situation where some mediocre is leading in a situation where you would have done very much better.
All the best!
