For a peer-based leadership programs to thrive, it is not enough to simply hand a discussion guide to a student and leave the magic to unfold. The secret to a program’s successful curriculum is found at the beginning, when the right student leaders are discovered and supported to be the best peer facilitators possible.
Getting Started: Finding the Right Peer Facilitators
While it is easy to assume that the valedictorian or the star athlete will be the best role models for youth, oftentimes the student facilitators who have already earned their peers’ respect through finding creative solutions to group problems or noticing who sits alone at lunch are the best fit for a peer-based leadership program.
There are some essential questions to answer before you begin looking for student facilitators:
Will students respect and trust this leader, regardless of popularity?
Does this student embody a value before asking others to adopt it?
Is this student willing to learn and change his or her method of delivery at an appropriate time?
Once you have decided what type of peer facilitator that you would like to have in your program, the next step is to find candidates who are able to fulfill those roles. Some simple steps might include a simple application, teacher recommendations, or a peer poll to uncover potential student facilitators that might otherwise be overlooked.
Training Your Peer Leaders: What iLead Offers
To determine the right students for your program is only half of the battle. iLead has created a research-based, fully developed curriculum that requires minimal preparation from educators. This means that your student facilitators will receive the in-depth training that they need to run a successful leadership lesson with ease.
When paired with iLead’s curriculum, facilitator training typically consists of:
A basic overview of the curriculum, with an emphasis on core values and grade-specific material (e.g., iLead for Elementary, Middle, or High School).
Training on how to facilitate roundtable discussions with unique twists.
An introduction to self-leadership concepts to which facilitators are expected to hold themselves to.
Practice facilitation and feedback from staff and peers prior to leading their first lesson.
Such training ensures confidence that a student will be able to lead a successful lesson. The resources provided by iLead are designed to not only support facilitators, but to empower them to be the most successful peer leaders that they can possibly be.
Providing Support During Early Sessions
The first roundtable session can be the most difficult to navigate. A student facilitator’s confidence is oftentimes built on competency and perception. The support that they need during this time is difficult to quantify, but there is one rule of thumb to keep in mind: they do not need you to rescue them when things go wrong.
Here are some ways to provide support during a student’s early sessions:
Observe without intervening during early sessions.
Give feedback after the session, not during.
Assure the facilitator that things will not always go perfectly.
If possible, ask an experienced peer facilitator to “tag-team” with a new one, providing additional support, leaders who train leaders.
As a leader, by encouraging and guiding your peer leaders without taking charge yourself, you will invest in their futures as student leaders, further developing your leadership stockpile as you help them to become mature leaders in their own right.
Navigating Difficult Moments
There will come a time when a group is unresponsive, a facilitator is lost, or lesson plans fail to adhere to an agenda. These are not reasons to abandon your peer-facilitated leadership program, but rather signs that a different type of facilitator might be better suited for your group.
When you are in a difficult session, try to:
Focus first on the problem, not the solution. Is it a leadership issue with the facilitator, a group issue, or a lesson planning issue?
If necessary, refer back to trainings on specific topics, focusing only on what is most needed.
Let the facilitator attempt to solve the problem first.
If appropriate, try swapping the facilitator out completely or adjusting the number of students in a session, or ask if a co-facilitator for a few sessions might be available.
Programs that survive difficult moments understand the value of a responsive adult advisor in a room to help deescalate tense situations.
Building Your Peer Leadership Team
Building a peer leadership curriculum is a long and winding road, not prone to rushing. With the help of iLead, educators have the ability to develop an army of top-notch peer facilitators who are prepared to guide their peers through a year’s worth of leadership lessons. For those who are interested in the process of building a leadership program centered on student facilitators, head to growingleaders.com.
