Being a school captain or another leadership position can be a significant step for many students.
Many school captains and other student leaders often feel overwhelmed, especially during the first two school terms.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
Here are five practical ways to ensure that tour student leaders are fully prepared and feel supported throughout their tenure.
1. Conduct An Induction Program To Prepare For Their Roles.
Sending school captains and leaders to an external leadership event at the start of the year may be a great way to motivate them, but it’s no substitute for a teacher-led, in-school Induction Program.
An effective Induction Program prepares leaders for their roles, helps them understand their strengths and gives them and helps them develop their unique leadership identities.
The impact of an in-school Induction Program far outweighs an external, on-and-off program.
2. Form Your Leaders Into A Team.
The Zebra effect states that strength and support are found in numbers. A zebra is easy prey on its own but has few predators.
Just as zebras collaborate in the wild, student leaders are at their strongest when they are part of a teacher-lead team.
Forming school captains and other leaders into a collaborative should be a high priority at the start of the school year.
3. Meet Regularly For Reflection And Review.
Reflection is a powerful self-improvement tool for young leaders who are new to the role of leading. To make the most of this process, it is beneficial to meet monthly to reflect on past activities.
Consider using this simple reflection and review system. Ask students to think about the following questions:
- What did you do as a leader?
- What went well and why?
- What didn’t go well and what would you do differently next time?
- What’s coming up?
- What help do I need?
4. Conduct Scenario Training To Upgrade Skills
The most confident school captains and student leaders are adaptive thinkers. These students think on their feet and solve problems as they arise
Provide scenario training on a regular basis to encourage the development of adaptive thinking. Present common scenarios that students may encounter as student leaders (such as how to manage uncooperative fellow students) and encourage student leaders to discuss possible ways of managing them.
Capture their suggestions, creating a Student Leadership Problem-solving Toolbox.
5. Introduce Mentoring To Accelerate Learning And Magnify Support.
Mentoring accelerates leadership learning.
It’s a powerful way to develop the skills and capabilities that school captains and other leaders need to lead effectively.ely.
It’s also a great way to provide students with support over their leadership journey.
Start by asking school captains and other leaders to choose a mentor who will pass on their experience when approached. The Young Leaders Program outlines the four domains of mentoring, where a student leader is mentored, then becomes a mentor, leaves a legacy, and passes on their learnings to new leaders.
Systemise Your Support.
Work out how best you can support student leaders over a year and then systemise your activities so that they occur routinely.
Your student leadership support system should include annual reflection and review opportunities for teachers and student leaders, ensuring it meets its goals.
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Looking for resources to help you develop and support your school leadership team?
The Young Leaders Program is designed for Australian students by Australian teachers and is used by schools in every Australian state, as well as in the UK, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Want it? It’s ready for you now.