The election speeches are done. The votes are in and counted. Your school captains, house captains, and other leaders have been chosen. They’re excited. So are their parents.

They’re ready to be let loose on their fellow students.

Or are they?

As one principal said, referring to his new student leadership team, “They’ve been elected captains, and they think they know a lot. But they don’t know what they don’t know.”

So true.

That’s why you MUST have an Orientation or Induction Program for your student leadership team.

(NOTE: At Young Leaders, we refer to it as an Induction Program as we believe it should do more than ‘orientate’ students towards their position.) 

Induction Programs are no longer nice to do. They’re must-haves in every school!

And not just any old Induction Program will do.

The most successful Induction Programs cover these essentials:

 

1. Presentation Skills

Communication is a cornerstone skill that all student leaders should develop. Your Induction Program should include presentation skills as its core.

Best practice Induction Programs teach students a method that they can use in all their presentation activities throughout the year.

Young Leaders uses the Easy Talk Planner, a tried-and-true method students can apply to any speaking situation.

 

2. Developing Leadership Mindsets.

One of the most crucial elements in leadership development is the development of a leadership mindset. Encourage students to see challenges as opportunities for growth rather than obstacles to avoid.

Emphasize the importance of listening to others and understanding different perspectives. This fosters empathy and communication, which are both important leadership traits.

Build a list of leadership skills and behaviours and contrast those with individuals’ skills and behaviours. This will help them understand not only what leadership looks like but also how they should think as leaders.

 

3. Understanding Their Roles.

Every student gets excited about being a leader, but how many understand what they must do?

Your best practice student leadership Induction Program should help students know their role inside and out, which builds confidence and agency.

If you don’t have role descriptions, consider asking previous student leaders to draft role descriptions for their positions with your help.

 

4. Forming A Supportive Team.

Your school leaders will work best if they feel part of a team.

Feeling part of a team relieves anxiety and acts as a pressure valve when expectations begin to build and they don’t feel they can cope. When they experience teamwork they are more able to promote it in their roles as leaders.

So, when planning your Induction Program, include team-building activities and games to help students forge strong bonds with fellow leaders.

 

5. Knowing Their Strengths And Passions.

Your leadership team will consist of many personalities. You’ll have quiet, calm, extroverted, and sporty kids.

So, one leadership size doesn’t fit all.

It helps if students understand their strengths and values well so they can bring these to the fore in their roles.

When planning your Induction Program, I recommend including a self-knowledge activity to help students understand their strengths. The Young Leaders Program uses Role-Modeling exercises to build student self-awareness.

 

6. Deciding Their Legacy.

Leaders leave a legacy for others to follow.

This is a concept that kids can easily grasp, but many adult leaders forget to add to their Induction Programs.

Introduce the idea of leaving a legacy during the student leadership Induction Program as a point of reference that you and they can refer to throughout the year.

NOTE: The Young Leaders Programs uses the footprint method to assist students in considering their legacy.

 

7. Introducing Mentoring

Mentoring accelerates leadership learning. It’s a powerful way of developing the skills and capabilities that kids need to lead and a great way to provide students with support throughout their leadership journey.

In your Induction Program, introduce mentoring.

Start the process by asking students to find a mentor either within or outside school. Consider what a good mentor looks and sounds like and how students should feel when they are with their mentor.

After an Induction Program, students should identify their mentors and know how to approach them. Better still, they will have their mentor in place.

NOTE: The Young Leaders Program’s innovative four-part mentoring framework is a proven methodology that enhances leadership development and student well-being.

 

A final word…or two

Kick off the leadership year with a world-class Induction Program. Keep your expectations high, and your students will likely meet them.

Dedicate at least 5 hours over at least two sessions to your Induction Program. If you are able, devote more time and sessions.

The energy and effort you devote to your Induction Program will pay handsome dividends regarding the leadership output, agency, and culture established over the school year.

 

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Want a ready-made Induction and Mentoring Program you can use immediately? 

The Young Leaders Induction and Mentoring Program (Part 3 of our program) is designed for Australian students by Australian teachers and is used by schools in every Australian state. Want it? It’s ready for you now.

The Induction and Mentoring Program is also part of our popular, money-saving Young Leaders Program Premium Plus Pack.

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