Girl Leadership Progression

I know someone whose daughter will be bridging up to Seniors this year. I recently had a conversation with her about the troop's Silver Award project. The girls had successfully planned a wonderful video project but their video production skills were unknown. Time was running short and it was unclear how much guidance the leaders should provide at this point.

As leaders, we hear over and over that Girl Scouting is a girl led activity. But this means something different at each level. What is the appropriate level of adult involvement? How can we help girls grow into successful leaders through a reasonable progression and step away at the right moments?

Daisies and Brownies
Young girls need to know that they have a say in the troop program. This prepares them for greater leadership experiences later on. The Daisy and Brownie rings give girls an opportunity to express their ideas and vote for their choices. At this level, the leader should be leading the discussions and implementing the program, but letting the girls make choices to define what that program will be. The youngest daisies may simply be presented with two choices to vote between, while older brownies could hold a brainstorming session and then whittle down the ideas with a series of votes. Giving girls simple responsibilities with adult supervision also prepares them to take over greater control later on.

Juniors
Juniors should begin taking actual leadership responsibilities. This often takes the form of having girls serve as liaisons between the adult leadership and the girls. Adult leaders work with the girl leadership to prepare agendas and discussion topics and then let the girls lead small groups through the agenda. The patrol system is the most common way of implementing this. Small patrols give girls a chance to practice leading a group without it being overwhelming. The court of honor provides an opportunity for the troop leader to role model to the girl leaders how to run a meeting and facilitate discussion. As Juniors grow, you can gradually expand the extent of decision making and responsibility that is expected of each girl leader and her patrol. Make sure to give every girl a turn at each patrol position. This is necessary for them to understand all of the important roles on a decision making team.

Cadettes
Cadettes are undoubtedly the toughest level to juggle girl leadership at. It is important to remember that they're not done yet. You are still the leader. Most cadette troops if left entirely to lead themselves will simply have a social gab session at every meeting. Is this wrong? No, girls at this age need a lot of social sessions, but that alone won't meet the full potential that the girls have to grow through this level. The trick is exerting enough leadership to help the girls find activities that excite and interest them and follow those paths, while letting the girls explore on their own as much as possible. I know a few long-term Cadette leaders that I greatly admire. These women are experts at keeping the girls enthusiastic about trying challenging program adventures and stretching themselves to their limit. High adventure activities or leading younger girls can be wonderful leadership opportunities. The best Cadette leaders know how to nudge the girls in this direction, then provide constant guidance as the girls plan and lead the activity themselves.

Seniors and Ambassadors
Your title now changes from leader to advisor. If the foundation has been properly set, the girls will be ready to establish their own troop government, lead their own brainstorming, and implement their own program. Nevertheless, you still have an important role. The troop advisor will need to keep very close track of the girl leadership. Regular Court of Honor or Executive Board meetings will now be girl run, but will also be the forum for you to help them handle leadership problems and determine what logistical support they need from the troop's adult volunteers. You are also an important line of communication between the troop and the council. Program activity opportunities will still be something you have access to and need to give the girls. As the girls prepare to bridge to adults, get them involved in as much of the adult role as possible, without breaching privacy or safety concerns. This will let them know that you respect their leadership skills and make them ready to take on adult leadership roles.

Let them make mistakes
Perhaps the most difficult aspect of girl leadership is allowing them to make mistakes. When girls are leading and making the decisions the program won't be perfect. It might not be anything that you were hoping for. But those moments when poor decisions led to putting up tents in the dark in the rain, or eating half-cooked potatoes for dinner, or leading unplanned songs with brownies for half an hour, those are the moments the girls will cherish, remember, and learn from. Just be sure to step in if they need some organizational guidance, and especially if something is unsafe.

I've been gratified by girls coming back from college, lamenting the lack of leadership in their non-scout peers. They end up leading their college organizations because they have these skills. And those leadership roles bring them greater respect and influence in their adult dealings. With the proper progression, the girls will gradually take the reins solidly to guide the troops destiny.

I hope my friend's troop finishes their Silver Project, but even if they don't, they'll learn something from the experience that will help them grow into more effective leaders in their Senior Troop.

Smitty