A frequent debate in today's educational landscape is asking if a
person is born a leader or becomes one. Well, either side you support, there
is, for sure, one point to bear in mind when calling someone a leader: having
strong, soft skills.
In every classroom, we teach and learn the knowledge needed to perform a specific task or role, but how often do we make room to support those human traits that shape an individual’s personality? Schools devote curricula to technical expertise or specific knowledge quantified and proven with evidence in certification and awards. Then, we find Dean’s lists and district prize boards full of names of individuals ranking high in qualitative research projects, science fairs assets and technological content creation. However, while all these achievements are awe-inspiring, they should not be the ultimate ones.
In a time when computers make people prove that whoever is behind the screen is not a robot, we must devote instruction to nurturing soft skills: perseverance, self-confidence, creativity, work ethics, conflict resolution, networking, multitasking, honesty, flexibility, courtesy, diversity/disability awareness, active listening, delegation, empathy, and every other leadership skill you may think of.
DKG leaders are expected to be emotionally intelligent, so we are the ones to provide spaces inside and outside the organization to prize those full of positive attitude, showmanship and power of mind that make a difference in a century when hard knowledge is literally everywhere. The leader of the 21st century must be trained to develop those soft skills that lead to hard results. What can we do to reach that balance?
By Bianchi Benavides-Segura
EEC Member
This is a great message for all. I am sending it to my daughter and grand daughters! The last paragraph and sentence has me pondering. I know our local schools have designed curriculum in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL).
ReplyDeleteBianchi, your article is motivating! I shared it with an educator friend today and ... gave her some information about DKG, our website, and shared information about our DKG Alberta "Inspired Leadership: from heart and mind" seminar that was held in scenic Canmore, Alberta, in the Canadian Rocky Mountains August 2022 (with funding from DKGIEF). Leadership ha so many aspects and your Soft Skills support all of them. - Cynthia Moore, Alberta, International Member-at-Large 2020-2024
ReplyDeleteGreat message!
ReplyDelete