Handing Each Other Along: Developing Leadership in Kinesiology

Developing and sustaining quality leadership is imperative for the overall health of our discipline. Part of our responsibility as educators is to think about how best to encourage this ongoing process. This article examines strategies for fostering disciplinary leadership, handing each other along, and being handed along, in various ways. One aspect is quality mentorship—developing relationships built on discernment, responsibility, and trust. This means the mentor and mentee spend time setting goals and assessing progress. The second aspect involves a broad understanding of human movement and a commitment to critical thinking. The mentor promotes an interdisciplinary understanding of kinesiology, as well as cultivates a reasoned and creative thought process. By working proactively to develop leadership through these means, we increase our chance of improving our discipline for future generations.