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Making Champions of Your Children
From the book, Principal Centered Leadership by Stephen R. Covey
Work to build your child’s self-esteem
From the day they are born, affirm them a great deal, believe in them and give them lots of positive feedback. Always express confidence in them and their potential. Try not to compare them with other children or with other people. The way people feel about themselves inside is the real key to using their talent and releasing their potential. And how they feel about themselves is largely a function of how they are seen and treated by others, particularly their parents.
Encourage primary greatness
Teach them that there are two kinds of greatness: primary greatness which
is principle-centered character and secondary greatness, which is greatness
that the world acknowledges. That’s been a constant theme. Try to
inspire them to go for primary greatness first and not to compensate for
character weakness by substituting or borrowing strength from a secondary
source (popularity, reputation, possessions, natural
talents, and so on).
Encourage them to develop their own interests
When you detect real talent in your children, you should encourage them to develop it.
Try to create an enjoyable family culture
Create an atmosphere for your children to get more fun and satisfaction from the family than from school or their peers or any other outside influence. Make your family culture fun and affirming and have many opportunities associated with it. Try to have regular dates, at least one a month, with each child and do something that is special to that child. Try to keep many positive and encouraging events like birthdays, etc. Always express why you love or appreciate each other.
Plan ahead
Plan several major family events at least six months in advance. Many parents fail to make champions of their children by not planning fun family events-events that become traditional.
Try to set an example of excellence
Try to excel in what you do so that excellence becomes an unspoken, unwritten norm. You will never have to tell your children to study or to do homework, if they constantly sense the value of reading and learning through your actions.
Teach them to visualize to help them realize their own potential
Visualization is based on the principle that all things are created twice: first mentally and then physically.
Adopt their friends
Individual champions are often part of championship teams. That’s why you should invest so much in the teams, clubs, schools and classes your children belong to. When family, friends, school and church are all aligned, it makes a powerful training system. Anytime something gets out of alignment-like when there’s a problem with a peer, just adopt the peer. It’s better than trying to get your children to drop the peer.
Teach them to have faith, to believe and trust others, and to affirm, build, bless & serve others
Empathy is the key to influence. You’ve got to be very sensitive to the feelings and perceptions of others. If you are going to build champions, you’ve got to take an interest in people, especially the downcast and the outcast. The key to the ninety-nine is the one.
Provide support, resources and feedback
Give honest feedback based on results and teach your children the value of feedback. Feedback is the breakfast of champions.