The Line Leader. Is it wrong?

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Thank you, Dustin Dale

The greatest position of all positions, the one position that almost every child loves to hold. The position that makes them feel important, in control, and often, for the first time, being in a leadership position. But is it wrong?

I was not the greatest student once I hit middle school; let's blame puberty and all the weird stuff that happens in middle school and high school. You already know what I am discussing if you have teenagers in the house.

Before hitting the "weird" hormonal stage were the fun years of elementary school, where chicken nuggets and cold pizza squares reign supreme with chocolate milk. In case you need a flashback reminder... please enjoy.

I loved elementary school and can remember the first time I was selected to be line leader. Back then (insert eye roll), the line leader went to the kid who behaved the best and was considered a "good" student. The line leader would assist the teacher in helping the class walk from one classroom to another room or to the gym.

The line leader would put their finger over their mouth and hold their hand in the air to signal to other classmates that it was time to be quiet and follow them to their destination. The line leader was in the front of the group, but there was still one more person in front of them. The teacher.

When it was my turn to be the line leader, I wanted to be in the front and only me in the front... maybe this is where the rebellion stages begin. I never liked the fact that the teacher was in front of me because I was still following her directions, which probably was safer for all the kids I was leading.

So, why do I ask if having kids as the line leader is wrong?

What happens when the opportunities to lead begin to stop?

Why do middle schoolers and high schoolers not use line leader models?

One possible answer is that we teach kids to obey what is considered "normal" behavior. Again, probably for safety and order, this is best.

But are we really teaching "leadership", or are we teaching management?

Being a line leader allows a child to feel different emotions, thoughts, and concepts at a very impressionable age. It may allow them to think differently when given a responsibility they may not have been exposed to in their home life. It also may allow them to feel a sense of empowerment.

As they mature, however, the line leader goes away because social/developmental behaviors begin to kick in, and the child should be able to self-regulate to move about the building in a safe manner. However, the opportunities for leadership positions become fewer and fewer.

The "line leader" position will eventually move onto a class president role, and then onto societies in high school along with team captains, graduating top of the class, and then fraternity, sorority, and other students' programs, and then the real world.

Maybe partner? CEO? VP? Maybe H.R? Maybe hourly?

Maybe homeless? Maybe drug addiction? Maybe prison?

Bringing this into 2024.

Having been blessed to work with students who go on to become leaders and employees, I see a continuous fundamental flaw. We teach kids leadership is being at the front of the line and leading (without speaking) to a destination. Then, as they get older, we do not continue the development of "leadership" and what it means at its core.

So, I love the concept of line leaders, but the opportunity exists for us to continuously teach "leadership" far beyond leading a line. The more we invest in our youth, the greater the chance we have to influence productive, empowered, and successful adults.

How could we do this?

(1) Leadership should be addressed more with our youth within education.

I had an educator explain to me that students could not understand the concept of "leadership," and it would be pointless to begin explaining. Their foundation for their opinion was based on where the students came from.

I responded, "The only way we (humans) know something exists is by being exposed to it. We automatically assume these students will fail before even attempting to define it in its simplest form."

We teach all throughout school to follow orders, take notes, and say "yes," and so does the opportunity to bring leadership values to the table to have conversations about. However, it's assumed most students will not go on to become "leaders" because, in the career world, we need both leaders and employees in order to function to meet our demands as shoppers, providers, and so forth. Then, we arrive at the capacity that each individual is capable of achieving. But that will be another newsletter, another time.

(2) The more it's discussed, the less foreign it is.

We teach small children how to do simple math. My toddler, as we speak, is learning to spell words and recognize his name. This means we can begin to introduce leadership into their lives in small amounts so they can become comfortable grasping it. The expectation doesn't need to be that they become VP by age 5, but there are core values and simple concepts we can connect the dots for them to see that behaviors they learn are also "leadership". This also brings a case forward that educators or whoever should receive continuous developmental training to have the tools/resources to be successful.

(3) The support for all systems; a huge focus on personal development and professional development is direly needed.

We need to equip those who equip our children with the right training and ideas to help further educate our youth on the importance of "leadership" through relatable stories. Educators might not have the "leadership" background or come from an environment where it was focused on, which also goes back to point #1. However, the ability to have access to leadership development is critical not just for the future of children but also for empowering those who are in the classroom to develop themselves.

The secondary piece for this to be successful is when those tools/resources are provided that they are taken advantage of. The need for self-development happens at the root: the person.

Lastly, we should focus on teaching that being a line leader and the person at the front of the line is also responsible for ensuring the person at the very back makes it with the rest of the class.

I remember celebrating when I led the team to the gym, and I felt so proud, but no one ever asked me if everyone made it. Looking back, I wish my teacher would have bent down and asked, "Dustin, did everyone make it here just like you? Stop, and take a look to see if your classmates made it."

Great leaders influence others through great questions.

Leadership is leading from the back, the middle, the front, and the sides. The more we can instill these values into our youth, the stronger we build our future workforce, entrepreneurs, and world leaders.

I want to end by saying that I truly appreciate everything our teachers do, especially those who go above and beyond to help children become successful.

I remember the ones who pushed me to become more than what I was told I could become. Now, it's our turn to ensure we do the same.

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