| An effective leadership program for teens builds skills | | | | projects. Plan an assignment around a particular issue. |
| in communications, leadership, problem solving, critical | | | | Partner with government agencies, businesses, and |
| thinking, and human relations. The following strategies | | | | nonprofits. |
| will help you accomplish this inside and outside of the | | | | * Teach youth how to present themselves with poise |
| classroom. | | | | and confidence. |
| * Select powerful learning activities. | | | | Facilitate seminars on public speaking, interviewing, and |
| Select the right learning activities; they make the | | | | etiquette. In regards to the former, videotape the |
| difference. Therefore, expose participants to activities | | | | participants delivering a short and a long informative or |
| that are highly interactive and thought provoking. And, | | | | persuasive presentation. Moreover, teach teens the |
| when you give the instructions avoid telling teens the | | | | basics of proposal writing. |
| objectives. Let them experience the lesson. Save the | | | | * Let youth serve as leaders. |
| objectives for the discussion. | | | | Create a governing board made up of teens to deal |
| * Plan challenging small group projects. | | | | with issues that may surface during the year. Let |
| Small group projects encourage communication, | | | | participants write the rules and regulations. Elect a |
| problem solving, and team work. Find projects that | | | | different group of leaders each year. |
| require youth to work together over an extended | | | | In closing, youth need instruction and unique |
| period of time. Always appoint recorders to observe | | | | opportunities to develop critical skill sets. For this |
| and report what happens in the groups. | | | | purpose, consider the ideas presented. Make the |
| * Organize interesting leadership internships. | | | | commitment to produce confident and competent |
| Seek opportunities to get youth involved in community | | | | future leaders. |