Leaders are not born, they are developed! While some youth are more adept at public speaking or are exceptionally quick thinkers, that does not make them leaders. To be a true leader takes years. Attitudes and skills need to be encouraged and developed over time. That is why leadership practice begins the moment a child enrolls in 4-H, regardless of age. As a Cloverbud, leadership training begins by learning how to express ideas and feelings appropriately, by taking responsibility for one’s actions, and by doing things for the good of the group – like helping to clean up after a craft.

As kids grow and develop, they are ready to practice more difficult skills such as speaking extemporaneously, planning the club program, and serving on committees and in officer roles. Failure will be a part of the learning process, just as learning that leadership is as much about putting the club’s needs before personal preference as it is about being “in charge.” It is important to allow the kids to make mistakes, and learn by doing, so that they understand that when things do not go exactly as planned they can problem solve and redirect, and still reach the goal or feel successful. In real life, things seldom go as originally planned, so it’s important to practice problem solving almost as much as public speaking.

As youth grow, their leadership focus will change from just the club, to the county, to the state. During these years, teens become great mentors for younger kids and begin to take on leadership roles in the projects they are most skilled in. They make ideal event or committee chairs, because they have experienced enough planning and active participation to understand what to do. With some encouragement from an adult, they are quite capable of handling club-level events and activities.

For more youth leadership ideas please refer to the SD 4-H Club Management Guide.