A growing number of extraordinary everyday schools, parents, and business leaders around the world are partnering together to produce inspiring personal leadership qualities and 21st-century skills in children.

In 1999, the A.B. Combs elementary school in Raleigh, North Carolina, launched a new leadership program that taught Stephen R. Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People to a pilot group of children. The next year they instituted the program school wide. By the end of that second year, the average end-of-grade score for the school had gone from an 84 to a 94. The school reported significant increases in self-confidence and self-worth in the children, a dramatic drop in discipline problems, and impressive increases in teacher and administrator job satisfaction. More importantly, parents began reporting very positive changes in their children's demeanors, attitudes, and abilities. Students began taking an active interest in the world around them, and seeking out ways to become involved in decision making, problem solving, and conflict resolution.

As news of the school's success spread, more educators and schools around the world began adopting the mantra to "develop leaders one child at a time". Business and civic leaders started approaching and partnering with schools in their communities to provide resources for teacher training and student materials. Each school and family approaches the principles differently, yet they have all enjoyed the same incredible success.

The best way to prepare the next generation for the future is to emphasize the value of communication, cooperation, initiative, and unique, individual talent - for nothing undermines confidence more than comparison. Whether in the classroom or at home, it is never too early to start applying leadership skills to everyday life.

Drawing on the many techniques and examples that have already seen incredible success around the world, The Leader in Me shows how easy it is to incorporate these skills into daily life. It is a timely answer to many of the challenges facing today's young people, businesses, parents, and educators - one that is perfectly matched to the global demands of the 21st century.