Charting My Progress
Towards Becoming the
Leader I Want To Be
Adapted with permission from the National Parent Leadership Month Tool Kit, a Parents Anonymous Inc product, as a self-assessment
tool for the Texas Deafblind Family Leadership Series
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."
--John Quincy Adams
The model below describes the steps many Parent Leaders experience as they move along their personal pathways to identifying and
building their leadership skills and taking on leadership roles. This process usually is not linear, and Parent Leaders may move up and
down the steps based on their personal life situations, commitments and activities. Parent Leadership is fostered by supporting
parents wherever they are along this path of growth and development.
The key elements of this model include:

Connections with other Parent Leaders in leadership roles

Opportunities to take on leadership roles, however small at first, and to practice them in a safe setting

A relationship with another person the Parent Leader respects and trusts and who provides them with important feedback and
support

A sense of belonging to the group or organization where their leadership skills are put into practice.
Leader’s Name:
Pathways to Parent Leadership
1.
Commitment leading to participation, growth and change.
2.
Regular participation in the group and a sense of commitment and belonging.
3.
Exposure to other parents who demonstrate leadership behaviors and are
acknowledged as leaders.
4.
Recognition of the need to take action.
5.
Encouragement from others who view the parent as a leader.
6.
Taking action.
7.
Receiving positive feedback and support from trusted others who ‘mirror back’ the
strengths and leadership skills displayed in earlier actions.
8.
Continuing to take action and to receive supportive feedback.
9.
Growing stronger and more confident as a leader.
Date:
Testing the
Learning to
Riding the
Water
“Hang 10”
Waves
10. Becoming a role model for other parents.
(c. 1998, Based on Results of Two Research Studies Conducted by Parents Anonymous ® Inc., 1995 – 1997)
Leader’s Name:
Pathways to Parent Leadership
1.
Commitment leading to participation, growth and change.
2.
Regular participation in the group and a sense of commitment and belonging.
3.
Exposure to other parents who demonstrate leadership behaviors and are
acknowledged as leaders.
4.
Recognition of the need to take action.
5.
Encouragement from others who view the parent as a leader.
6.
Taking action.
7.
Receiving positive feedback and support from trusted others who ‘mirror back’ the
strengths and leadership skills displayed in earlier actions.
8.
Continuing to take action and to receive supportive feedback.
9.
Growing stronger and more confident as a leader.
Date:
Testing the
Learning to
Riding the
Water
“Hang 10”
Waves
10. Becoming a role model for other parents.
(c. 1998, Based on Results of Two Research Studies Conducted by Parents Anonymous ® Inc., 1995 – 1997)