Wрat is Leadership?

Development of youth leadership?

• I am currently doing a research on development of youth leadership "How do young people think and develop about leadership?". I have conducted some interviews but still need more information to back up with the data I have got. And I am wondering what is the difference between youth leadership and professional leadership? how can we define youth leadership? what motivates youth to take a leadership role? and what is the connection between youth leadership and politics? If you can help me find out all of the answers in the form of academic research that would be great. Thank you

• Answer:

  Dear Kitty, In order not to have you waiting for the material -- and not to tempt another electrical accident -- I'd rather post it as I have, and then review if anything is missing or needs some clarification. Here you are: Definition of youth development and youth leadership: From The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability (http://www.ncwd-youth.info/resources_&_Publications/hot_Topics/youth_Development/index.html ) "Youth development is a process that prepares young people to meet the challenges of adolescence and adulthood through a coordinated, progressive series of activities and experiences which help them to become socially, morally, emotionally, physically, and cognitively competent. Youth leadership can be defined as both an internal and external process leading to (1) ?the ability to guide or direct others on a course of action, influence the opinion and behavior of other people, and show the way by going in advance (Wehmeyer, Agran & Hughes, 1998); and (2) "the ability to analyze one's own strengths and weaknesses, set personal and vocational goals, and have the self-esteem to carry them out. It includes the ability to identify community resources and use them, not only to live independently, but also to establish support networks to participate in community life and to effect positive social change." (Adolescent Employment Readiness Center, Children?s Hospital, n.d.)." This same definition is cited in other sources: National Consortium on Leadership and Disability for Youth (www.ncld-youth.info/glossary.htm ) Health Policy & Disability Center University of Iowa College of Law (www.onestoptoolkit.org/Downloads%2FWebsite_and_Publication_for_07-16-2004.cfm ) The concept of "professional leadership" was much more difficult to find, and I am not sure to have come across with a satisfactory one. There is one definition from New Zealand's educational system -- so you're probably aware of it: "Professional leaders are responsible for ensuring the good reputation of the profession is protected and for maintaining standards of service and conduct. "Firstly, they must manage the day-to-day maintenance of their profession. This involves ensuring that members of the profession behave in accordance with codes of conduct. "Secondly, in order to ensure the profession is always at the cutting edge of its field and justified in its monopoly over the skills it controls and the services it provides, the leaders of the profession must promote its ongoing development. They must guide the members of their profession towards new practices and keep members in touch with new developments. They must lead by example, reward and foster excellence, facilitate discussion within the profession and gauge and respond to changes in the needs of their clients. "Professional leaders, in order to maintain the status of their profession, therefore, perform two separate roles: "they control the operation of the profession - a management function; "they promote development and change - a leadership function." Comparing these two concepts, a notorious difference is that the one referring to youth leadership emphasizes the capacity to interact with others opening a path for a way to go, as well as self-criticism and confidence, whereas professional leadership includes the consideration of certain work standards and managerial functions. Also from New Zealand, at HODs Technology- TENZ Conference, Christchurch, 4 October 2005, Presented by Margaret Kouvelis, the lecturer calls professional leadership "mucking-in leadership", after a TV show name, and says: "Mucking-in leaders don?t hesitate to get stuck-in making a difference where they see a real need for improvement. They believe in working together with their colleagues to bring about transformational change in the lives of teachers in their department, school or professional organization ? and their enthusiasm, their energy and their behaviours are infectious." And: "Mucking-in leadership is invitational and all teachers are encouraged to join in as leaders in their own right. Transforming our students? backyard is about transforming our perceptions of teaching that will result in changed teaching behaviours in the classroom." (http://www.techlink.org.nz/tech-education/resources/Professional-Leadership-Mucking-In.pdf ) The motivation for youth leadership makes part of some researches, as well as its connection with politics: Seevers - Dormody, 1995 http://www.joe.org/joe/1995august/rb1.html Wingenbach - Kahler, 1997 http://pubs.aged.tamu.edu/jae/pdf/vol38/38-03-18.pdf Boyd, 2001 http://www.joe.org/joe/2001august/a6.html Dormody - Seevers http://pubs.aged.tamu.edu/jae/pdf/Vol35/35-02-65.pdf Ricketts - Rudd, 2002 http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JCTE/v19n1/ricketts.html Quinn, 1999 http://www.futureofchildren.org/usr_doc/vol9no2Art9done.pdf Rutherford et al. http://pubs.aged.tamu.edu/jae/pdf/vol43/43-02-22.pdf As a reference in case you're not familiar, since it is mentioned in some of the articles: http://www.4husa.org/