• Today youth spend more time on screens and less in face-to-face activities.

• We review why more face-to-face activity can assist youth as they mature.

• Here are some approaches that can improve communication and leadership skills.

How can we make youth group participant’s experiences as effective as possible?

Let’s review the current situation and some approaches that can assist in skill enhancement.

THOUGHTS AND SUGGESTIONS:

• In today’s digital world, face-to-face discussion time with youth is often limited.

• We can assist youth to organize youth groups. Here they can promote communication and build leadership skills.

• Teamwork is a key element.

• Strive to make all participants feel as if they are part of a valuable team.

• Focus on the impact the group has on its community and even the world at large.

• People value experiences far more than material things.

• Teams that focus on participant’s experience far outperform teams that don’t.

• Experiential organizations perform at a higher level.

• Have participants control their team environment. As a result, they are more productive, healthier, happier and less stressed.

• There’s no one-size-fits-all solution

• Focus on teamwork with a strong sense of purpose. Such groups can become a positive force for change in communities around the world.

APPROACHES:

To find the key aspects of a youth group it is necessary to:

• Seek out participants input;

• Talk with the group’s participants;

• Listen carefully to their comments;

• Start with a strong reason for being and the impact the group can have;

• Ask them what they believe their youth group stands for and how it makes a difference in the world;

• Ask them which moments are most effective in improving their group experience;

• Make it easy for participants to get involved in designing the group’s activities;

• Don’t claim to have all the answers;

• Design with them, not for them;

• Praise the team’s success;

• Avoid highlighting any one person’s contributions;

• Help them feel a strong sense of purpose by showing them the direct impact of all their efforts;

• Provide a new team member with a strong sense of purpose;

• Have newcomers meet an experienced participant who can share the positive effects of the group;

• Have them provide feedback, ideas, and suggestions for group improvement;

• Encourage participants to speak up and not be afraid to voice their opinions;

• Encourage them to operate as a laboratory;

• Test new ideas and embrace failure;

• The key to their success is to build an environment that focuses on teamwork and has a strong sense of purpose.

Facilitate face-to-face time where youth practice and learn communication and leadership.

This is a key element to a participant’s future success.

What are your thoughts and comments? To forward them, please see the “How Can You Help?” section below.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

• Comment and Request more information in ‘Leave a Reply’ to this post.

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• Join a Moderators session (Discuss how to moderate online sessions)

A PARENT’S GUIDE:

There is a guide available which assists parents and others working with youth.

The guide enables a person to be proactive in the success of a child’s future.

It contains activities to assist youth to gain critical soft skills.

They will become more resourceful and independent when they practice and gain these skills.

The guide is available from Our Future Leaders.

Request the Parent’s Guide here: http://www.ourfutureleaders.ca/contact-us/

EVERY CHILD DESERVES A WONDERFUL FUTURE.

What are you going to do to assist children to become our future leaders?

Fred Jones

Victoria, BC Canada

Fred Jones