Daily Lessons from Life 22 May 2013 - New leadership programme for less-academically inclined students

"New leadership programme for less-academically inclined students - The Straits Times May 22, 2013 So far, the Character and Citizenship Leadership Programme has been rolled out in six schools this year - Tampines Secondary, Yishun Secondary, Fuchun Secondary, Orchid Park Secondary, Christchurch Secondary and Mayflower Secondary. About 20 students from each school have been selected to participate in the 52-hour programme which will run over the course of a year." It will be interesting to find out what type of things are 'taught' or shared at this Character and Citizenship Leadership Program. Lessons for me are: 1. leadership does not depends on if someone is academically brilliant or not as I defined it as: creating a greater good for a larger number of people without overly trampling on the rights of the minority; 2. so I am not sure if it is helpful to 'termed' it as 'for less-academically inclined students'. Is there a set of character and citizenship leadership for the 'academically inclined students'? What is the relationship between the 'leaders of less- vs. more-academically inclined students' then?; 3. for me the specific leadership things any leader will do are: Envision, Enable, Empower, Execute, Energize and Evolve grounded in ETHICS. It is still about 'dream the big dream - to create a greater good for a larger number of people without overly trampling the rights of the minority!', acquiring the capability to execute and the boldness to make decision and go for it, never resting on one's own laurel when the initiate dream was turned into reality by constantly looking to do better and better. All these must be anchored with ethical behaviors and good and pure intention! Some leadership quality are inept but MANY leadership skills like effective SMART goals setting, effective communication of influencing people through good listening/providing good feedback and asking powerful questions to identify/clarify/resolve challenges and issues CAN BE LEARNED!! May the student leaders in this program, despite the poor 'titled', gain some leadership knowledge and skills and be committed to apply them to be a LEADER of young men and women!!