News - Page 6

There are great pleasures in life. Some of which are complex, difficult, and require significant resources if they are to be achieved. Others may occur only once or twice in a lifetime. But some of the greatest pleasures are simple; they are commonplace. For example, sitting down to a meal with your nearest and dearest in your family.

For as long as there has been culture and belief, there have been stories of the mystical Fountain of Youth; a source of water which will preserve the youth of those who drink from it forever more.

To prepare the minds of our young people as they embark on this journey of self-knowledge, the team here at Learning Ground use the 'orange' analogy.

Well, at Learning Ground, we are helping to build and nurture the next generation of leaders. As we have said before, we are not necessarily talking about future prime ministers or organisational leaders; instead we are talking about a generation of people with the knowledge and skills required to lead society towards a better state, be that in the work place, in the classroom, or simply in the home.

What is it to be a leader? We are not talking about future Prime Ministers or politicians - at least not necessarily. We are not even talking about organisational heads or other elevated positions. Good leadership permeates every aspect of our society, and is a vital component of all social structures.

How do we recognise a leader?

The first concept that may spring to mind when we consider this question is one of 'command' – of being 'in charge' – but there is more to it than this.

We are taught from a young age that doing good is its own reward and that we should not be kind to others or do positive things simply because we expect something in return. While there is some truth in this – and altruism of this nature is certainly a vital part of any functioning society – rewards and recognition are powerful forces, particularly during our formative years.

When leadership is good, it can be the catalyst and the galvanising agent for truly amazing things. When it is bad, the effects can be as devastating as they are far-reaching. In this article, we look at what happens when leadership doesn't work, and how this situation can be changed for a brighter future.

A Purple Heart is a military accolade delivered by the United States Armed Forces to soldiers who have been injured in combat. In essence, it is a recognition of their bravery, and a token of gratitude for their sacrifice.