Recent survey reports indicate that American children spend about 1300 minutes per week on Television. Stephen R Covey is so bothered about waste of time on telephone and television by children that he has mentioned this in this monumental book "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People." If this is a matter of concern in USA, why not for us in India. Deteriorating leadership is a matter of concern for all world class authors like Warren Bennis, Peter Drucker, Stephen R Covey, Tom Peters etc. There are certain leadership features which need to be practised form childhood, and they need to be recited daily like a prayer so that they flow in their veins, become their habit and when they grown they act on these paradigms.

• I will listen twice of what I speak. I will become a deep listener
• I will not talk against people in their absence
• I will not say yes, if I want to say no
• I will not do anything in private which I cannot defend in public
• I will not see television more then 8 hours a week
• I will not talk gossip on telephone more than 45 minutes a week
• I will speak the truth
• I will try to part with a part of my savings for the cause of society
• I will subordinate my impulse to values
• I will develop others in my life

This is based on practice with my two daughters.

In the present world where all of us have very little time to pay attention to our children, at lest this prayer will develop them in the right direction. Looks theoretical but would work.

Unfortunately most of us rely on control rather than direction as a tool for developing our children. This article may help in giving new direction.

A.K. Dutt
Executive Director, HFL, New Delhi
(Indian Railway Engg. Service)

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