Celebrating student leadership & agency
A screenshot from one of our AISA Student Leadership Series sessions. Look at those happy faces!!
One of the things I love most about service learning and global citizenship education is the opportunity to coach and support students as they grow their leadership skills and their sense of agency as independent thinkers. It is always so wonderful to see a young leader reflect on his/her/their strengths and areas of growth, and act thoughtfully, purposefully and with awareness.
This past month Aaron Moniz (co-founder of Inspire Citizens) and I were in the lucky position of co-facilitating a 3-part series about student leadership with 115 students from dozens of AISA (Association of International Schools in Africa) schools. Most students were high schoolers, but there were a few middle school leaders in the mix, too, and all students who participated were engaged, eager to learn, and excited to connect and share.
Aaron and I organized the sessions around 3 key themes, and if you’re thinking about supporting your student leaders with some workshops, perhaps this approach will be helpful as a model.
In the first session, we helped students explore:
their interests, skills, and talents
their “why” (what they care about, and the local and global issues that are important to them)
the types of action that appeal to them
In the second session, students learned about four tools to evaluate leadership and action ideas/proposals/projects. These tools are designed to help students consider the ethical, sustainable and inclusive aspects of anything they might want to plan and lead:
SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats)
In the third session, students learned how to:
pitch their leadership/action ideas to each other
give positive feedback using a “stars and wishes” protocol
communicate in groups to ideate about leadership skills and tools
It was so rewarding to work with these students, and all week I’ve been reflecting on the ways we can support student leaders. It’s led me to think about a “top 10” list of skills and dispositions our students might want to consider.
Lead by Example: Be a role model for the behaviors and values you want to promote. Your actions will speak louder than words.
Active Listening: Develop strong listening skills to understand the needs and concerns of your peers. Show empathy and respect for diverse perspectives.
Build Relationships: Foster positive relationships with fellow students, teachers, and staff. Collaboration and teamwork are essential for effective leadership.
Set Clear Goals: Define your objectives and communicate them clearly to your team. Having a shared vision will motivate others to work towards common goals.
Inclusivity: Ensure that all voices are heard and valued. Create an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome and respected regardless of their background, abilities, or opinions.
Sustainability Awareness: Educate yourself and others about sustainability issues. Encourage eco-friendly practices within your school community, such as composting programs or energy-saving initiatives.
Effective Communication: Develop strong communication skills, both written and verbal. Effective leaders can convey their ideas clearly and inspire others through their words.
Time Management: Learn to prioritize tasks and manage your time efficiently. Balancing academics, extracurricular activities, and leadership responsibilities is crucial.
Conflict Resolution: Develop conflict-resolution skills to address disagreements constructively. Encourage open dialogue and compromise to maintain a harmonious environment.
Self-Care: Take care of your physical and mental well-being. A healthy leader is better equipped to handle challenges and support others effectively.
Additionally, I think it’s good to encourage students to create diverse leadership teams that reflect the broader student population. This can help ensure that a wide range of perspectives and experiences are considered in decision-making processes. Finally, we need to help students remember that leadership is an ongoing journey of growth and learning, so it’s important to be open to feedback and continually seek ways to improve leadership skills.
I hope you can share this post with your student leaders and that it will generate some excellent discussions and action!
