“Leadership is the art of influencing human behavior to accomplish a mission in the manner desired by the leader.” – Commander Chris Hadfield
Chris Hadfield is a retired astronaut, engineer, and former Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot. Commander Hadfield has also flown two Space Shuttle missions, was the first Canadian to walk in space, and served as the distinguished commander of the International Space Station. His awards include the following:
- The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order and the second highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit.
- The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario.
- The Meritorious Service Crossis a decoration that is, within the Canadian system of honours, one of the two Meritorious Service Decorations gifted by the Canadian monarch, his or her Governor-in-Council.
- The Canadian Forces’ Decoration is a Canadian award bestowed upon members of the Canadian Armed Forces who have completed twelve years of military service, with certain conditions.
Commander Hadfield is a leader among leaders who began his leadership journey early in life. As a 14-year-old teenager, he attended the Air Cadets, a Canadian version of the Cub Scouts but with a military emphasis. The Air Cadets teach aviation and weather. In short, they teach young people how to fly.
They also teach leadership.
Hadfield said, “You can never be preparing too early.” The first course he took in Air Cadets was the Junior Leaders Course. It was there he learned the definition, “Leadership is the art of influencing human behavior to accomplish a mission in the manner desired by the leader.” He still remembers the phrase over 45 years later.
There are five components to this definition of leadership:
- “Leadership is an art”
- “influencing human behavior”
- “accomplish a mission”
- “in the manner desired”
- “by the leader”
So how soon in a person’s life should you start leadership training? Well, we know the Canadian government starts intensive leadership training at a minimum of age 14. However, based upon the five components of the definition I would say as soon as possible. My thoughts are in Pre-K though you would make the terminology age and task appropriate.
I would recommend something like this:
- “Leadership is fun!”
- “It helps you makes friends”
- “and get things done”
- “in a way”
- “that makes your mom and dad and teacher happy!”
And thus the seeds are planted in a leader’s life. Who knows what those seeds can grow into, maybe someone who flies space shuttles, walks in space, and commands the International Space Station.
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