Teens as Leaders
Essentially there are seven leadership skills that all leaders possess. As adults we play a large role in providing opportunities for those skills to be developed.
1. Understanding of Self
Teens need opportunities where they can comfortably be themselves in
order to hone their true leadership skills. By knowing how they react
to different circumstances, teens can apply that knowledge to new situations,
and be better prepared to deal with unknowns.
2. Communicating
From verbal to body language, teens need practice in communicating and
expressing ideas. The most critical role we as adults can play is to
actively listen and treat them as equal partners in leadership.
3. Getting Along with Others
As teens mature they begin to realize that getting along with others
does not equate to being friends. As adults we need to create opportunities
for teens to reach agreements and support each other.
4. Learning
As leaders we must always be open to new learning. Leadership can not
occur in a closed environment, therefore learning needs to take place
in every leadership experience.
5. Making Decisions
Teens need opportunities to make authentic decisions that directly impact
their lives. As adults, we need to make ourselves and other resources
available so teens can seek-out the best possible solutions to difficult
decisions.
6. Managing
Learning to manage difficult decisions, situations and people are all
essential to being a good leader. Teens need to learn the skills to
process past experiences and apply them to new ones in order to manage
the daily events in their lives.
7. Working with People
You can’t be a leader if you have no one to lead, and knowing how
to work with others is essential to being a good leader.
For more information:
Alison Greene
Nontraditional and Tech Prep Program Coordinator
(630) 942-2496
E-mail
