Leadership from the Bottom Up

Every year I feel compelled to give at least one lesson to every student. Our school ranges from fifth to eighth grades. Today, I started in the fifth grade using contemporary leadership theory mostly from Covey. I mix in some inspirational videos that our school or other schools have produced. The hour just flies by.
I start the lesson by telling the students the one word I want associated with our school: leadership.

Most of the discussion centers on common sense but it gives every student in our school an opportunity to accept their role as a leader.  I let the students know that you do not have to be the loudest, most athletic, or the smartest but you begin by acknowledging your potential. However, Potential Minus Commitment equals nothing.
One of the most powerful slides is: BE NICE
I ask the students if it needs an explanation. Not one student raises his or her hand either out of embarrassment or because it needs no explanation. I like to believe it really needs no explanation.
During the lesson, I delve into stories about past students. I show before and after pictures of our school. The before picture is a blank wall. The after pictures consist of some amazing murals painted by our students.
I am humbled by some of the answers that the students give. I firmly believe that your leadership ability increases exponentially by the number of leaders you have around you. We begin with ten-year-olds. By starting from the bottom up, your full potential stands a chance of success by time you get to the top. The top consists of training for our adult stakeholders.
Everyone associated with your organization deserves a chance to bring out that strength that no on  knew existed.
This is the shortened version of the lesson but I end with a picture of my eighth grade class (from 1972)  and the famous quote:

PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID,

~BUT~THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.