As their children’s leadership coaches, parents must model the character traits and values they wish to develop in their children. This is crucial since parenting experts tell us that children learn through imitation and repetition. The poet, Dorothy Law Nolte, says it simply yet forcibly in her poem “Children Learn What They Live.”
Everyone speaks about each individual being unique. But I often wonder how many of us, parents, live that way. When we go along with our friends to the function in which we see no educational, re-creational, or redemptive value, instead of voicing our position and opting out; Or when we conform to performing a task that we know may belittle another human being, just because someone in authority asked us to do it; what message are we sending to our children?
We may think that our children are not being influenced because they are absent at the times of our decisions, but a troubled spirit, or disturbing thoughts release negative energy into the air around us. And children are very intuitive beings. They may not have the details, but they know when something is wrong.
Being authentic is being uniquely you. Just like your children, even though your talents and abilities appear similar to others, your experience and perspective make them unique. Your vision of the world is also specific to you. Understanding your strengths, the things that energize you, the reasons why you have and work toward your major goals, and the vision you have of yourself and the world are the things that contribute to birthing your authenticity.
I learned a long time ago that we can only teach what we have learned ourselves. So I ask you, do you know who you are? Have you discovered your uniqueness? Do you know why you are here, and where you are going? Are there significant goals toward which you are working, every day? The answers to these questions will shed light on the authentic you.
Only as parents become leaders in living with authenticity by living with a deep understanding of who they are, can they help their children to live authentic lives. Living with authenticity is the beginning of leadership training.