University of Florida Extension created an outstanding curriculum for teaching leadership skills to teens. I have spent some time looking over the curriculum and I love the versatility of the lessons along with the depth of lesson topics.
UF Extension provides a great snapshot of the curriculum. They share the following on page 1 of the Introduction.
The new Florida 4-H Individual Development curriculum, Sharing Our World recognizes leadership, citizenship, and communication as important skills in the development of young people and for their preparation for the working world. The 4-H Leadership program provides an opportunity for young people to practice a variety of life skills while learning subject-matter including communication, getting along with others, making decisions, understanding different teaching methods and learning styles, managing resources and people, and working with groups.
UNLOCK YOUR LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL is the 4-H Leadership Curriculum that is designed to help 12-18 year old youth learn and practice leadership skills. Additional curricula packages will be designed in other age ranges for sequential advancement in the leadership program. The
Florida 4-H Leadership curriculum has eight major foci:
What is Leadership?: defining and understanding leadership.
Understanding Self: discovering personality traits and how they relate to leadership.
Communication: learning communication skills necessary for effective leadership.
Getting Along With Others: improving interpersonal relationships.
Learning to Learn: understanding different teaching methods and learning styles.
Making Decisions: learning effective decision making methods for individuals and groups.
Managing: knowing how to manage resources and people.
Working With Groups: practice working with others and leading a group.
Basic leadership knowledge and skills are essential for success in almost any field. Even though one may not be president of a club or the director of a project, skills associated with leadership are helpful, if not necessary, when working within a group. More and more often, employers look for leadership ability in the persons they hire. An investment in young people’s knowledge and understanding of effective leadership is important; that is why leadership is a priority within the 4-H Individual Development curriculum. By assisting the development of leadership skills in today’s youth, we are improving their ability to face the challenges of the future.
Direct Link to curriculum: