1)Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other, according to John F Kennedy. To grow as a leader you must be willing to learn, have a thirst for new knowledge, new concepts, new paradigms and new ways of working. Leaders create a vision, properly articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to its completion. Success is no longer considered a personal growth. It is about helping others to grow because the essence of true leadership is to see and nurture leadership potential in others.
Rev Dr Gilson John, Principal, Viswadeepthi School, Adimaly
2)Today's children, the leaders of tomorrow need to be inspirers who can kindle a spark in others. And one quality that children should develop as future leaders is to be genuine. Only if we are real, we can inspire others. For this,children need to unbox themselves from the "fake branded world" that they usually build up just to post on Instagram and start living a real life.
We educators need to give them the wings of independence and be the wind beneath their wings so that they can soar up as genuine and unique leaders.
Libi Elizabeth Mukesh, Principal, Georgian Public School, Puthuppally Kottayam
3)For creating leaders with vision, mission and passion, the schools have to focus on a) social awareness b) knowledge c) skill development. Students are expected to be aware of the problems and hold a view on them. Teachers should provide the facts to help in decision making and hone the skill to deal with the problem and solve it through right action. The school should provide strong moral fundamentals and strong core values. This will help children to make choices based on strong inner values and to take the right action. We want to make every student a leader. K Suresh, Principal, Bhavan’s Adarsha Vidyalaya, Ekm
4)Leadership is an indispensable skill in both professional and personal life. Truth is that a group of people can achieve more than an individual can. A leader can ensure that groups of people work together effectively to achieve their common purpose. A quality which is a prerequisite to being a good leader is the ability to inspire others. Good leadership instils in others confidence and inspires them to action, thus delivering results. They can raise morale and bring out the best in others. While everybody has the capacity to be a good leader, few get opportunities to develop them. This is where schools can play a decisive role.
S Ajayakumar, Principal, KV Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram
5)Leaders have to believe in his or her possibilities, and bring out the best in all, in actions or activities. Everyone has a song within and it is the paramount responsibility of the leader to help the song of others to be heard. For a leader "No" is nothing but a "Yes" waiting to happen. Leaders set high standards and will not compromise even at the cost of their own lives and are focused on the task.
Shaji K Thayil, Principal, Swathy Central School, Ottapalam
6)Leadership depends on listening well, comprehending the issue, reacting diplomatically and quickly, and thinking strategically. A leader should be able to predict the possible effects of a smart decision made.
Sindhu Joseph, Principal, Dawn International School, Ernakulam
7)A leader is one who leads by example. A leader should be a role model in himself for others to emulate. Willingness to take up responsibilities is one vital quality to be a leader. Schools can promote collaborative and cooperative learning.
Dr Anila Sarosh, Principal, St Mary's Central School, T’puram
Building confidence
8)‘Spot them young' is our motto. All children should be nurtured to become leaders, but some are born leaders who ooze with confidence. It's our duty to develop that confidence and build confidence in the rest. Inculcating a sense of responsibility in young minds helps build confidence. Boosting a child's worth adds to confidence level. Children are made to recite and speak at the assembly.
Jaya Nagarajan, Principal, Hari Sri Vidya Nidhi School, Thrissur