We learn to lead by leading.
We can read all the leadership books in the bookstore (and I’ve read quite a few), but the only way to practice the skills in those books is by practice. That means, necessarily, working outside our secure skills, in our zone of proximal development. Working in this way necessitates falling down.
Making leadership mistakes, bad calls, even hurting the people we’re leading in small or large ways.
Unfortunately, that is the only way to get better at leadership.
Leadership-in-theory is not an effective training method for future leaders. Safe practice of actually leading is. We in schools must do a better job of creating the situations in which more of the students we teach get a chance to lead. Actually lead. Teachers and coaches should be in a position to provide guard rails, feedback, and mentorship. Students should have multiple opportunities to lead their study groups, classes, clubs, teams, ensembles; these opportunities should increase in complexity and challenge as they develop.
Talking about leadership and not giving students the chance to practice leadership is a great way to teach followership.