Earlier in the series, I asked you to think about the best leader you’ve ever worked under. Now I want you to think about the worst leader you ever worked under. What made this person so bad? Aside from potential moral conflicts, it was likely that that person was not competent enough to lead your team.
We have all experienced a time when we felt that someone in a position of power over us was incompetent. You might have also experienced feeling like you were smarter than your superior, or better suited for his job. This is not a good feeling, and it does not give you confidence in your job or the company you work for. In times of need, we look to our leaders to guide us in the right direction. If this person doesn’t have the wherewithal to give us this guidance, should he really be the person in charge?
Nowadays it is more of a standard that professional workers are required to have higher education. In decades past, a postgraduate degree would set you aside from other candidates. Now a Masters degree is necessary for many functions of working in the corporate world. This means that expectations are higher than they have ever been. We are working every day to train up the next generation of leaders. With modern standards, the job is harder than it used to be. Not only must that person be qualified, they must also be competent in a variety of circumstances and challenges.
I truly believe that the more we can do to provide our students with diversified experiences, the better off they will be as leaders. Knowing how to react to many different scenarios and maintain composure is extremely valuable. Experiences give people the street smarts that are so valuable in addition to book smarts. If you have a child that aspires to be a leader but is not involved is extra-curricular, student organizations, competitive sports or clubs, etc., he needs to seriously rethink his actions. Not only do these activities bolster a resume and college applications, but they also give students important experiences that will inform their future leadership abilities. If your child wants to be a leader, make sure he is involved in these activities during Jr. High and High School.
- Bria