Developing leadership mindsets: student leadership programs
Developing leadership mindsets is the missing ingredient in most student leadership programs. There are four key habits of mind you can reinforce to maximise student leadership effectiveness and get kids thinking like leaders.
Before you can develop habits of the mind you need to develop the necessary vocabulary to anchor their learning.
For instance, to develop a leadership mindset you should encourage kids to ‘think like a leader’. This cues them into leadership thinking as opposed to viewing a situation from an individual’s perspective.
Here are four terms you can use to encourage habits of the mind in four essential leadership areas:
1. Presentation skills
“Speak out” becomes the habit of the mind that triggers behaviours such as speaking clearly, standing strong & making eye contact when they speak.
2. Responsibility
“Be accountable” is the habit of the mind that reminds students to become accountable for themselves, their group and their belongings.
3. Organisation
“Plan ahead” is the habit to remind students to think ahead, plan ahead and make time for plans to happen.
4. Teamwork
“Work together” is the trigger to remind students to think about cooperating with others, encouraging those who struggle and accepting the contribution of all team members.
Focus on establishing leadership mindsets (‘think like a leader’) as well as developing various skills needed to become effective and respected leaders.
Developing leadership mindsets is the missing ingredient in most student leadership programs. There are four key habits of mind you can reinforce to maximise student leadership effectiveness and get kids thinking like leaders.
Before you can develop habits of the mind you need to develop the necessary vocabulary to anchor their learning.
For instance, to develop a leadership mindset you should encourage kids to ‘think like a leader’. This cues them into leadership thinking as opposed to viewing a situation from an individual’s perspective.
Here are four terms you can use to encourage habits of the mind in four essential leadership areas:
1. Presentation skills
“Speak out” becomes the habit of the mind that triggers behaviours such as speaking clearly, standing strong & making eye contact when they speak.
2. Responsibility
“Be accountable” is the habit of the mind that reminds students to become accountable for themselves, their group and their belongings.
3. Organisation
“Plan ahead” is the habit to remind students to think ahead, plan ahead and make time for plans to happen.
4. Teamwork
“Work together” is the trigger to remind students to think about cooperating with others, encouraging those who struggle and accepting the contribution of all team members.
Focus on establishing leadership mindsets (‘think like a leader’) as well as developing various skills needed to become effective and respected leaders.