When I started work, I was very lucky. My first boss gave me opportunities to lead small teams from a very early age – to learn some of the lessons at an age when I could simply bounce back from my mistakes – to mess up when the stakes were not high – to succeed early and discover the pleasure of leading a hugely successful team full of people having fun – to discover that it’s the delight of watching others succeed around you that it the real delight. My first boss sent me on leadership development courses; some good, some less. I remember coming back from one of the later to debrief him about all that was wrong with it and he sent me back to do it again so I might analyse what was right just as well.
I learnt leadership, young and early. Not everyone is as lucky as I was but even if it’s not great, they are learning it.
So how are we going to ensure that the young people who are out of work in vast numbers in the UK get some of this important learning? Young people who are trying their level best to get work but failing who will be the leaders of the future but will miss out on some crucial years of learning.
Common Purpose can’t get people into jobs. But we can run our courses; courses which many employers pay fees for their young talent to attend; for the generation that might go without. So we’ve launched the Young Million campaign
2 responses so far ↓
1 Eleanor // May 4, 2011 at 05:29
It’s lucky you got the opportunity to pick up leadership values at a fairly early age. It’s something most managers today could certainly benefit from. Any opportunity–workshops, mentoring programs–to get young people to learn the right skills and characteristics will definitely be welcome.
2 James // Jun 12, 2011 at 21:10
There is a danger that leadership once again becomes a consequence of birth rather than as a result of education and opportunity. I suspect, perhaps in a bias fashion, that the current Government is extremely relaxed about that.
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