leadership games for youth

Leadership Games for the Youth

Leadership activities are an effective way to help the young minds develop the qualities that are a prerequisite to become a good leader. The article below presents some interesting leadership games for the youth.

To become an effective leader, one needs to possess good communication, interpersonal, decision-making, and problem-solving skills. A leader is someone who motivates and guides his team members, someone who leads and controls them, and someone who is popular. Nobody is a born leader; in fact, a person can learn how to be a good leader by inculcating and developing certain skills right from his childhood and adolescent years. This is where leadership games for the youth come in handy. They contribute immensely to train one to be a good leader. My Leader, My Guide!
  • This is one of the most interesting games.
  • To conduct this activity, divide the group into pairs of two, and blindfold one of them.
  • Next, place some objects in the middle of the room, like chairs, tables, books, etc.
  • Instruct the pairs that the blindfolded person is the subordinate and the other one a leader.
  • The leader has to guide his subordinate from one end of the room to the other end, crossing the obstacles, without speaking a word and only communicating via physical gestures.
  • Start with different pairs one by one. You will see that some of the leaders are sensitively holding their subordinates and guiding them step by step, while some others are only concerned about reaching the other side in the minimum time to win the game.
  • Also, some subordinates will readily take instructions, while others may try to do what they want, despite being blindfolded.
Observations and Conclusion
  • At the end of this game, take a debrief.
  • Ask the subordinates how they felt when they were blindfolded. You might think of it as a stupid question, but their answers are important in determining the future camaraderie with their leader.
  • Ask them if they were able to trust their leader or not. If yes, then you have a positive side in the game. If not, you have to call the leaders individually and explain their mistakes.
  • If the leaders may have been lacking the right communication or sensitivity, explain how they can inculcate the same.
  • In the end, explain the whole idea behind the game, i.e., it is the leader who has a bigger picture or goal in mind, so he should be responsible enough to guide and treat his subordinates in the right manner so that they deliver their part well in reaching that goal.
Lets Shape It up!
  • This one fits the bill perfectly for the youth.
  • To play this game, divide the group into teams of 5 or 6 each.
  • Next, give each of the teams some pencils, erasers, painting colors, and a blank sheet of paper.
  • Instruct the teams that you will give one topic to them, which they have to draw and color on the sheet of paper.
  • The main point to be noted is that the team members can not talk among themselves.
  • Also, only one team member can work on the sheet at a time. Whenever you whistle, some other member has to take on from the previous one. Each team gets ten minutes to carry on this activity.
Observations and Conclusion
  • For example, let's suppose the topic is 'picnic'.
  • Now, the teams cannot discuss how to go about it, so a team member will take the initiative to start sketching.
  • After you whistle, you will find 2 or 3 team members trying to be the next one in line. Thus, the group's problem-solving skills will be tested.
  • Also, each member has to start from where the previous one has left, this requires that the members understand each other very well.
  • This game thus, is a perfect way to improve teamwork, decision-making skills, and problem-solving skills.
Survival Tactics!
  • To begin with, make teams of 5 to 6 players each.
  • Next, tell them that they have to come up with a list of ten things they would take with them if they had to survive alone on a deserted island.
  • Choose one person in the group as leader who will make observations and write down how the group arrived at the list.
Observations and Conclusion
  • In the end, ask the leader to make a presentation about the whole process, mentioning how the different members of the group behaved.
  • Here, the leader will specify how one member might have come up with creative ideas or how some member was perhaps not ready to listen to others.
  • He will even mention if one person was quiet and not sharing anything with the rest or how someone gave up his choices to please the rest of the group members.
  • After all the leaders have made their presentations, each of the participants must be made aware of their short comings.
  • Accordingly, they should be guided so that they can improve upon their traits and skills.
Apart from games, you can periodically involve the youth in community service, debate competitions, sports activities, event planning, etc. This will help improve their communication and people's skills.

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