Ignite Student Potential: 5 Innovative Ways to Showcase Leadership Value.

Unlock student leadership potential with these actionable steps.

A school’s values are evident in its programs and the everyday focus of teachers, parents, and staff.

In a recent Young Leaders survey, most teachers indicated that student leadership was a high or very high priority in their classes and schools.

However, after investigating a sample of schools more closely, the team found that many teachers (and schools) were unsure about the best strategies to support student leadership development.

So, how can you show that you value student leadership? There are numerous ways to cultivate leadership; however, the five strategies genuinely practised showcase your commitment to authentic student leadership.

1. RECOGNISE leadership.

A discussion question in a student leadership workshop I run with teachers uncovers a lot:

• “What does effective leadership look like in children and young people?”

If teachers don’t recognise effective leadership, they can’t teach it.

Using a leadership framework makes it easy for teachers to recognise leadership and know the behaviours they should focus on in the classroom and the schoolyard..

For instance, if Teamwork is part of a framework (in the Young Leaders Program), it’s imperative to recognise and nurture small behaviours that promote teamwork, such as encouraging others, sharing, and including others in games.

A framework removes the ad hoc nature of student development in some schools.

2. ACKNOWLEDGE Leadership.

Do you want your senior students to demonstrate better leadership more frequently?

Start acknowledging more leadership behaviours from students. Not just those who you deem as likely leaders.

As every teacher knows, the student behaviours they focus on expand—those they ignore or pay little heed to will disappear.

Acknowledge leadership from every student in your class or school. That means you need to tune your antenna to leadership. It takes commitment and effort, but the results make it worthwhile.

As a school, look for ways to recognise and reward acts of leadership in various contexts and fields in all age groups. Consider creating a school-wide leadership recognition program beginning in Foundation and finishing in the final years.

3. TEACH leadership.

Half a century ago (yes, that long ago), I was elected captain of my primary school’s AFL football team. It was a significant moment, as football was a prestigious activity, with numerous premiership pennants on the school office walls as evidence.

Unfortunately, I had no idea how to lead other than just playing to the best of my ability. There was no job description or explanation on how to be a good captain. I wasn’t taught leadership in class.

To say I was poorly prepared is an understatement.

Fast-forward five decades, and I hope that if I were elected captain of the football team now, I would know what a good leader does because I’d been taught about leadership. I’d also like to think I could recognise good leadership in others so I would know who to model myself after.

Teachers and schools prioritising leadership educate students about it through engaging activities, particularly before and after student elections.

They create a common language around leadership, weave it into classroom life, and bring it to life through:

• literature and movies,

• lessons and discussions

• games and activities

4. DEVELOP leadership.

Some leaders are born, but most are developed.

Even if a child is a natural leader, just as a diamond in the rough needs polishing, they need honed skills to reach their full potential. Develop leadership through:

• Exposing kids to activities that require them to take responsibility for others, show initiative and solve problems.

• Projects, acts of service and captaincy roles provide the bulk of the leadership opportunities in many schools.

• Mentoring, using leadership language and exposing kids to great leaders.

Students also need assistance and opportunities to reflect on, review, and refine their leadership capacities so that school leadership becomes a growth activity. That’s why journaling is pivotal to the Young Leaders Program.

Leadership development is not a one-off event but a continuous process.

5. SUPPORT leaders.

Leadership is an emotional journey for students. Most kids struggle when they’re poorly prepared for leadership.

More parents than I care to mention have shared stories of kids spending sleepless nights worrying about a talk they have to give, a project they have to lead, or challenging students they must work with as leaders.

Student leaders often feel out of their depth, so providing ongoing support through mentoring, coaching and regular probelm-solving workshops should be an integral part of a school’s leadership development activities.

An Aside: The Young Leaders Program incorporates a mentoring program to support students on their leadership journey and ensure their time as leaders is a growth experience.

FINALLY…………

As a passionate supporter of developing agency in kids, I’ve loved seeing student leadership development grow in primary schools over the last decade.

However, in addition to bringing leadership to the fore, it’s essential to establish systems that will allow authentic leadership to flourish in schools.

Teachers and schools that genuinely value student leadership put resources and programs in place for its development.

Enjoy a Stellar Year.

Now is a brilliant time to get into the Young Leaders Program.

You can use the Induction and Mentoring Program to prepare your elected leaders for the year ahead and lay the groundwork for training all students in the last two years of primary school next year.

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Your February Bonus.

Get the Young Leaders Program Premium Plus Pack before 28th February, and you’ll receive a 60-minute self-initiated online coaching session with Young Leaders Program Founder Michael Grose. This session can be taken at any time in the next twelve months.