Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Gifted in Leadership

DD's gifted program talks about the kids being "leaders" a lot. I find it a bit offensive and silly, personally. You can be of average intelligence and be a fantastic leader. You can also be brilliant and reclusive and have no interest in leading (and yet still accomplish quite a bit, perhaps as a mathematician or author).

I believe there are kids who are gifted in leadership, but that there is no reason to assume this overlaps with intellectual giftedness--and that attempting to force an overlap where there may or may not be one is a risky game to play.

This is America.

You need to get on the gifted leader extrovert career track as soon as possible.

Failure to do so may result in catastrophic life failure due to being a follower.

@UltraM.
Believing that there is an overlap doesn't make it so, but neither does believing there's no possibility of an overlap.
...there certainly could be, and I would be curious to see further study on it ~ study by whom or how ? I have no idea, of course.

It makes little sense to me that folks with iqs 140+ are going to easily follow someone with iq 100; they might *think* they are working with someone who is 'nd', however it is highly unlikely they'd follow and feel confident about someone who was not at least 'bright' and then some. imo, based on my own comfort and confidence when working with managers, CIOs, etc. - I am much more inclined to do what someone says when what they request is 1. intelligently phrased and 2. logical.

I suppose this will vary with what folks are being led into...

I think it's a misconception that a leader needs to be outgoing and charismatic. Some of the best leaders I've known have been quiet and reserved individuals who lead with their actions, work, and mostly by example.

I find it a little amusing quite honestly that many want to limit the conversation to giftedness of intellect here. Why do many want to stop the conversation there? Isn't the goal to develop ALL gifted potential?

The Iowa Educational Code, the state in which the Iowa Acceleration Scale, Belin-Blank Center for gifted education, ITBS and ACT tests are based in defines gifted as...


Iowa Code 257.44 Gifted and talented children defined.

"Gifted and talented children" are those identified as possessing outstanding abilities who are capable of high performance.

Gifted and talented children are children who require appropriate instruction and educational services commensurate with their abilities and needs beyond those provided by the regular school program.

Gifted and talented children include those children with demonstrated achievement or potential ability, or both, in any of the following areas or in combination:
1. General intellectual ability.
2. Creative thinking.
3. Leadership ability.
4. Visual and performing arts ability.
5. Specific ability aptitude.

The block at the top of the forum states:

We invite you to share your experiences and to post information about advocacy, research and other gifted education issues on this free public discussion forum.

I don't remember reading anywhere here, "Please limit your discussion topics to intellectual gifted matters."

I don't really know any leaders so I'm not going to be much help here.

I suspect the fact that you're addressing an audience that generally makes for poor followers is a major factor.

I'm pretty sure that I don't know any good leaders, so I won't be of much help here.

I don't have the faintest idea how leadership works.

I also generally wander around life feeling completely lost and meaningless, so that adds to my inability to meaningfully contribute here.

My youngest is what I would call a natural leader - which I define as someone who possesses the innate ability to inspire others to follow suit despite expending little or no effort towards that effect.

I see this as very different than someone who learns leadership skills and may become a very effective leader through great effort, planning and training. And I honestly think that many of our gifted children who do not possess natural leadership abilities would do well with leadership training. I sought out experiences for my older son for him to gain leadership experience because it did not come naturally.

And for my youngest, he doesn't really care whether others follow him, think he's cool or do what he's doing. He just does what he likes, and other kids follow him. He's been like that since he was tiny. And because he often does not consider the consequences that others may suffer because of following him along some idea he's dreamed up, I have had to find opportunities to try to teach him to think of others and consider what is best for the group - because it doesn't come naturally to him. And, yes, it is this type of leadership that can be used for good or for ill. And, thus, I work with him continually about morals and ethics and compassion so that his is hopefully always used for good.

...extremely funny.