With great power comes ... [complete the sentence]

I mentioned last week that, because of my role as founder and MD of Carambola, I have the privilege of speaking to many groups of children and young people and one of the topics I try to cover, particularly with older primary school going children (11/12 years) is the around the power they have.

When I first broached the subject some years back I found it difficult (anything worth doing is worth doing badly - until you figure out how to do it well) and then one day I hit the jackpot.

My talk is usually to 6th class kids who, in the main, have been in the school for eight years and have graduated from the bottom to the top of the pecking order, highest on the totem pole and so my talk goes something like this:

"Rumour has it that this is the coolest 6th class that has ever come through this school!"

Watch the video or read on below for more...

When I make the statement, the response is always the same, with a collective "Eh. Yeah!". This is usually accompanied by the class clown standing up, mimicking The Fonz. It is such an interesting phenomenon to witness. All of a sudden, the class unites; it's them against the rest, individual rivalries disappear in that moment and they adopt the collective persona of being the coolest 6th class that has ever graced the halls of such and such school.

(You know what I mean. I am of the class of 1980 from St. Paul's College, Raheny, Dublin, you are of the class of when and where? I hope you can look back on those days with fondness and can say to yourself, "we WERE the coolest class EVER!" Maybe when you're done reading this you might reach out to an old school mate?)

So, back to my class of eleven year olds - the coolest group of eleven year olds on the planet in that moment.

I go on to explain that they are the coolest group because the group is made up of the coolest individuals and, again, we have general consent (although you can always see the shy kids body language suggest they are not really too sure)

We talk about the fact that they are the oldest kids in the school and often the biggest and that they need to know that every other kid in the school is looking at them, quite possibly in awe, and that whether they like it or not, they are role models for these younger children.

This leads me to say:

"That means that not only are you the coolest group, you are also the most powerful - a collection of cool, powerful individuals, coming together and by extension forming a cool, powerful group."

All of a sudden I have their attention and that is how I set my trap:

"Boys and girls, or should I say young ladies and gentlemen, complete the following sentence - with great power comes ... ?"

And 100% of the time, without fail, they will reply in unison, "great responsibility".

The first time it happened it blew me away, thereafter I knew I was on to a winner and so have kept it going since.

"With great power comes great responsibility" What a powerful line!

Next question? Where did you first hear that line? and the answer... "Spider-Man!"

Yes my friend, not Voltaire, not Churchill, not Roosevelt, but Spider-Man and boy am I glad it is Spider-Man for this generation. Of course the cleverest kid will always remind me it wasn't actually Spider-Man who uttered the words but a dying Uncle Ben who reminds young Peter Parker following his confession about his new-found powers, " Peter, with great power..."

So there you have it, gospel according to Spider-Man.

And I, for one, am not going to knock it - regardless of where they got it, they are at least using it.

The poor class - trapped by their own words; they have just admitted to a complete stranger that they are the coolest, most powerful group in the school, made up of the coolest most powerful individuals and now they have had to admit they have a great responsibility as a result. Ouch!

Our conversation then goes on to explore the fact that the younger kids are watching them, and mimicking them and that whatever they CHOOSE to do, good or bad, right or wrong will be assimilated by some younger child as OK, simply because THEY are doing it. They have the power (and have had it all along) but now they have the responsibility.

In particular I use the opportunity to ask them as a group to attempt to stamp out bullying in their class, for exactly the reasons set out above; that the younger kids are watching and learning and mimicking. Great power can be used for good or bad. (See link to my Bullying blog below)

So what about you? You are a cool, powerful individual in your own world. And, as such you are a leader; someone is watching you and taking their lead from what you do.

Who is watching? Your kids, your spouse, your friends, your Facebook and Linked In followers, your boss, your bank manager, your work colleagues, your clients, your subordinates, your suppliers, complete strangers, that's who.

I was talking with a friend during the week and she quoted a friend of hers as saying, "The hardest thing of all is doing the right thing." and you and I know that can be true. But let's try? For this next week, let's assume the great responsibility that comes with the great power we have been afforded and let's lead by example? Let's do the right thing when faced with a choice?

With great power comes great responsibility. Are you ready to accept it?

END.

MORE: If you enjoyed that and would like to read/watch last week's blog/vlog on Bullying - aka Steven's story – click here.

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Thanks for thinking with me.

Yours truly,

Colm