Research & Articles
Vision: Part of our vision is to catalyze research in the area of young leader development. Practically no research currently exists in this area, although interest is increasing. Following are published articles, written by Dr. Nelson, as well as articles and links related to this theme. The articles below are free and Dr. Nelson gives you the right to copy those he has authored, but are not for resale. If you are interested in discussing research topics, please contact us at info@kidlead.com.
Articles
Click HERE for You Yoda article on coaching socio-emotional skills in young leaders (SLA magazine)
Click HERE for article on using political elections for training (Student Leadership Activities magazine).
Click HERE for article on learning to lead through service projects from Student Leadership magazine.
Click HERE for article on motivating student leaders from Student Leadership Activities magazine.
Click HERE (page 1) and HERE (page 2) for an article on disciplining student leaders in Student Leadership Activities magazine.
Click HERE for 1 page article on young leaders, ages 2-22 (Excellence in Leadership magazine)
Click HERE for 1 page brief on the difference between "elitism & uniqueness" regarding student selection
Click HERE for 1 page article in "Working Mother" magazine on developing your child's leadership
Click HERE for "Stepping In Early to Develop Leaders" article from the Center for Creative Leadership (4 pp)
Click HERE for "Central Coast Parent Magazine's" 2-page story on KidLead
Click HERE for the Student Leadership Development Assessment instrument for organizations
Click HERE for the Student Leadership Development Assessment instrument for organizations
Click HERE for Student M magazine's article in assessing your child's leadership ability (3 pp)
Click HERE for Student Leadership Activities magazine article on selecting student government members (1 p)
Click HERE for Student Leadership Activities magazine article on situational leading styles (2 pp)
Click HERE for Student Leadership Activities magazine article on leadership personality styles (2 pp)
Click HERE for Student Leadership Activities magazine article on leadership communication (1 p)
Research/Scholarly Content
* Click HERE for a scholarly article: The benefits of a long-lens approach to leader development; Understanding the seeds of leadership, by Drs. Murphy & Johnson, published in The Leadership Quarterly, 22 (201 1) 459-470.
* Click HERE for a link to the book edited by Drs. Murphy & Johnson, titled "Early Development and Leadership," published by Rutledge Press. This is the first quality, academic book, published on the topic of young leader development.
Misc.
When does 1 + 8 = 1500? KidLead Math
The Monterey, CA Blue Module training grad class had 15 preteens, culminating in a group decision to pursue a leadership project that aided the needy. With the number of homeless and in-need families on the increase in the county, the Leaders voted to accept the challenge of raising food to donate to the Salvation Army's Good Samaritan Center in Sand City. Because of vacations, only 8 could participate, but these 8 Leaders raised nearly 1500 pounds of goods and then served boxes of food to senior adults on July 23. Two television stations and three newspapers covered the story. Click HERE to read the article in The Monterey Herald. Oh, the math: 1 LeadNow training module, plus 8 Leaders, equals 1500 lbs. of food...not bad productivity! When's the last time you donated 3/4 of a ton of food to help the needy? LeadNow grads are awesome!
KidLead Interacts w/Nickelodeon Staff
Last week, KidLead connected with a research staff member for Nickelodeon, one of the premier companies focusing on preteens and part of the MTV network. Nickelodeon does much of it's own research and is proprietary, so specific issues were not discussed. But the staff member did recommend resources for KidLead's ongoing networking and learning in this specialty. The researcher went on to say, "I'm very impressed with KidLead. One thing we're learning is that the rising, digitally influenced generation is more informed and connected than any other in history and they're concerned about both local and global issues. This is the perfect time to show these young leaders how to lead effectively."
Connecting at Stanford University (CA)
Dr. Nelson met with staff members from two organizations on Stanford University campus this week, Challenge Success (www.challengesuccess.org) and the John Gardner Center (www.gardnercenter.stanford.edu), both affiliated with the School of Education. Challenge Success focuses on helping schools, parents and students, learn the importance of balance in formidable years and to avoid unhealthy pressures of performance that drive many students to cheating, stress, depression, and even suicide. The John Gardner Center provides programs and research dealing with youth in leadership and community in a variety of applications. The goal of these meetings was to begin to explore possibilities of networking and viable partnerships and research opportunities.
Monterey County LeadNow Club Strives for a "Ton of Fun"
Believing that giving people are happy people, fifteen of the Monterey (CA) area Blue module grads have set out to raise 2,000 pounds of food to benefit the poor in their area, called "A Ton of Fun." They brainstormed and then voted on a project to see if they can make an impact in an areas that has seen a 70% increase in the homeless over the last 2 years due to the economy. Each Leader is responsible for developing a team that will strive to raise nearly 140 lbs. of food, culminating in a "serve the seniors" day on July 23. Justin White is the 13 year old executive director, working with 3 Team Leaders: Gina Morales, Courtney Creel, and Casey Bell. We'll report back in a month to let you know how they did in spite of vacations and camps.
Types of Kids Who Benefit from LeadNow Training
Following a 2-Saturday Blue Module intensive in Monterey, CA, I was reminded of the types of young leaders whom we see in the program and the way they benefit from this style of concentrated training. There are 4 categories we see the most:
1. Boss Moss: This individual confuses leadership with bossing people around. Unfortunately, the controlling, autocratic mindset is quite common in adulthood, but LeadNow coaching can soften this trait and teach a more socially intelligent approach to team building. One way they discover this is by the adult Koach feedback as well as learning how to be a good team mate in a context of mutual learning and direct supervision.
2. Timid Tim: This individual has legitimate leadership aptitude, as opposed to someone with a low capacity to learn leading, but during our training we see this person step up in confidence and exude assertiveness. Again, this is created by a structured setting where a Koach provides ideas and affirms more overt leader behaviors. It's fun to see these "Tims" step up their leading by mid-module.
3. Balanced Brooke: This leader already has a pretty solid approach to leading, but the real benefit we see in this category is improved confidence and skill expansion. Because most kids have little experience where they've been the leader in formal settings with Koaching, "Brooke" types quickly embrace the lessons and activities that add skills and tools to a foundation that is ready for learning and improvement.
4. Breakthrough Bob: These are the young leaders who literally blossom in front of your eyes as they begin to see themselves as leaders. They legitimately belong in the LeadNow training because adults have seen their aptitude, but they don't think of themselves as leaders. This internal change in psyche is pretty exciting when the young leader discovers his/her wiring to be a leader. It is the sleeping giant awakened.
7 Benefits of Schools Using LeadNow Training (April 27-May 3)
1. You can rest assured you’re providing the very finest leadership training, with the added potential of generating revenue for this value-added service.
2. You reduce classroom disruptions as natural leaders learn to use their influence constructively.
3. You are likely to attract families and/or potential donors in the community who understand and value leadership development in addition to good academics.
4. You cultivate experienced leaders for your upper grades and who are positive influencers of younger students.
5. You gain reputation in your community as a schools that develops exceptional leaders, more attractive to other schools and colleges.
6. You give your young leaders a 10-20 year head start on others. These alumni are likely to remain indebted for this training they received.
7. You gain public relations opportunities as young leaders lead community service projects they design out of their training experience.Preteens in the News
More and more we're hearing about preteens, as Disney and Nickelodeon have captured the vibe and fanned the flames of this micro-culture, now 20,000,000 strong. More and more people are recognizing what history has known, that young people really can be influential. A February article in USA Today expands on this, noting we're apt to hear a lot more about this segment since the Obama girls are now both official preteens (8-12 years old). KidLead is rolling out Monterey's Lead50, a goal of identifying and training 50 promising young leaders in the Monterey Peninsula (CA) and introducing LeadNow training to this part of the country as well. KidLead now has certified trainers in 4 states and we're lining up an August training in the Phoenix metro area. Pass the word.
It’s cooler than ever to be a tween, but is childhood lost?
KidLead Founder Meets with Salinas City Officials; a Leading City in Adolescent Homicide
Last week, Dr. Nelson met with the Mayor and Chief of Police of Salinas, CA. Salinas is known as the salad bowl of America, producing 80% of lettuce alone. It is in a fertile valley just east of the Monterey peninsula and home to Pulitzer Prize winning author, John Steinbeck. But Salinas has been plagued with gang violence, with 24 killings in '08 for a city just under 150K, and 9 murders the first 2 months of '09. KidLead's vision of targeting leaders while they're still moldable addresses the root of gang violence, as new leaders tend to be recruited during preteen years. At the same time, city officials noted that the problem is also systemic to the family culture. While KidLead offers the finest preadolescent leadership training curriculum, we still acknowledge the vital role that parents and family members play in the life of a young leader. KidLead is planning two launch programs in Monterey County, one for the peninsula and one for Salinas, two distinct demographics, but both ripe with future leaders.
KidLead Trainer Tiffany Miller in News
KidLead Trainer, Tiffany Miller, who is a school teacher in Fort Collins, CO, was recently featured in the Coloradoan newspaper. Tiffany dreams of starting a leadership oriented school in her life and has several years of experience running teen leadership programs around the country. She is an example of the caliber of people who are being 
drawn to become KidLead Certified trainers. Tiffany is also mentioned in the upcoming KidLead book, sharing ideas she uses to develop leaders in her class room.
KidLead trainers are independent "agents" who are able to use the LeadNow and LeadWell curriculum after application and training. If you are a leader and enjoy working with preteens and teens, or know of someone who is/does, then pass the word on this opportunity to bring America's top leadership training for preteens to your organization and community. KidLead has 20 trainers at this point and will eventually need thousands to impact the future the way we dream.
