The Fourth Effective Role of Latino Leadership: Part 4 of 5

(CONTINUED FROM A Pioneer of New Thinking)

Millennial Mentors

The purpose of coaching is not only to possess knowledge of the game, but also to be skilled in teaching techniques that will raise the competitive level of their players. If you ever wondered what makes the difference between consistently good teams and consistently losing teams, it is coaching. Talent is important, and so is knowledge of the game, but every College and Professional team is full of talent and knowledge. Why then do some teams always rise to the top? In my view, it is because of coaching techniques that lead players to new levels of peak potential in performance and the pathways of continued success.

Latino Leaders need good coaching and mentoring to not only get to the top, but to stay there, year after year after year. We can be adequate by ourselves and probably even good, but good is always the enemy of best, and if we want to achieve our best or greatness we need great coaching/mentoring relationships. I suggest, the best place for this mentor/coach relationship to take place is in the home as parents can serve this role better than anyone else. Entertainers have fans from afar, but mentors have fruit up close and personal. However, as is often the case, many parents lacked good role models as children, and have had their own children lacking the knowledge, skills, training and understanding required to be the kind of mentor/coach their children need. But, the good news is that good parenting skills can be learned.

The Latino Coalition strongly advocates and supports more initiatives that strengthen families through the offering of parenting classes, especially for the Spanish speaking, which will help them cope with the culture clash they face in raising their kids in the American “hip-hop” culture.

In addition to parents, teachers are in the next best position to fulfill the role of mentor/coach that can help our children succeed to their full potential. Not only do we need more teachers, but better equipped teachers able to deal with the many challenges classrooms have on today’s school campuses. When one considers that children in America spend six hours a day, five days a week, nine months a year for twelve years in the classroom and on the school campus, we can appreciate the role and tremendous influence a teacher can have on the future of our children. Thus, as parents, teachers and community leaders, our children need us to become better than “good enough” and to consistently grow ourselves, reinvent ourselves and continually be students in learning new and better techniques that will lead us, and them, to higher and more excellent pathways, not only for personal success, but more importantly for personal significance!