Formation of Leadership Characteristics of Gifted Students: Purpose, Task, Components

Abstract

The issue of leader formation is extremely relevant today, given that a leader performs a dual function: expressing the opinion of his or her environment and at the same time directing the activities of his or her followers. It is a gifted personality – intellectual, developed, purposeful – who can become a leader and be useful in society if he or she develops leadership qualities in a timely manner.

Leadership studies as a branch of modern humanities is highly developed in European and American scientific discourse. It is represented by numerous leadership theories, well-known psychologists and sociologists. In Ukraine, at the beginning of the twentieth century, the problem of leadership also attracted researchers, and there are still few but thorough studies on the education of leaders in general secondary education.

The article presents the opinions of well-known Ukrainian philosophers on why it is necessary to educate leaders, what tasks are involved in educating leaders, and what exactly defines a true leader in society. It is noted that a leader should be a highly educated professional, a person of high moral character. It is necessary to form a leader starting from school, since while mastering a large amount of knowledge and competencies, it is also necessary to remember about the formation of the leader's mental qualities (emotional intelligence, empathy, communication skills, ambition) and the value sphere (vision of the path of development, morality, patriotism). All of the above constitutes the subjectivity of the individual, which consists not only in the ability to critically view the world around us, but also in the vision of the prospects for the development of society, not only the ability to find a way to the goal, but also active actions and responsibility for their actions. The author emphasizes the development of the value sphere of a gifted personality-leader, which should include morality and responsibility, as well as national identity. A schematic model of a gifted student-leader is presented, which reflects the personal components and the direction of formation of the leadership position.