Always+a+Leader-+WestGATE+2013

__** Session One: Who I Am **__
 * __Day One__**

**__Step 1: FEEL IT__** > [|And here's another version] • The Talker: verbal/ linguistic- into words, likes talking, writing, reading • The Puzzler: logical/ mathematical- into numbers, patterns, puzzles • The Looker: visual/ spatial – into art and notices details • The Mover: bodily/ kinesthetic- into P.E. and sport • The Tuner: musical/ rhythmic – into music • The Nature Lover: naturalist – into nature • The Friend: interpersonal – likes to work with others, cares for people • The Thinker: intrapersonal – likes to work alone, to have time to process ideas
 * We brainstormed 20 things about ourselves.
 * Then we learnt about __Gardner’s M.I.’s or Multiple Intelligences.__ He says people are smart in 8 different ways. Most of us are strong in one area and quite good at 2 – 4 other areas. We work harder at the rest.
 * [|Check out Multiple Intelligences]
 * Then we used our Multiple Intelligences to prepare and present a self-portrait. Check out these photos.

**__Step 2: KNOW IT__** We listened to a story called “Timmy’s Flower” about a boy who lost his creativity in conforming to what other people wanted.

**__Step 3: BE IT__** We talked about how important it is to have a good self-image to be a good friend and a good leader.

**__Step 4: DO IT__**
 * On a piece of paper we wrote something we believe about ourselves and how that is a great skill to have as a leader.
 * **Check out our ideas. [[file:Check out the skills we have to be great leaders.doc]]**

• Then we rolled up the paper, put it in a balloon, which we blew up.
 * On the balloon we wrote things that we struggle with or that make us believe we can’t be a good leader.
 * Then we popped it!
 * That’s a great picture for what we can do to get rid of fears and untruths that hold us back from who we are as leaders.

__** Session Two: How I live **__

**__Step 1: FEEL IT__**
 * We all picked the real apple and the fake apple. [[image:IMG_0591.jpg width="128" height="96" align="right"]]That’s like people… It’s easy to tell when people are being fake.
 * We took part in “Integrity Chairs” and it was clear all of us had told little white lies and lacked integrity.[[image:IMG_0615.jpg width="224" height="168" align="left"]][[image:IMG_0614.jpg width="175" height="268" align="right"]]
 * We figured out integrity is walking securely in who we are, matching what we say and do, being honest and not cheating, following through on the commitments we make, and being ourselves, not trying to be like someone else.
 * = [|Check out Integrity in action!] =

**__Step 2: KNOW IT__**
 * We read “The Emperor’s Seeds”, a story about leadership and integrity, and how it takes courage and honesty to be a good leader.

**__Step 3: BE IT__**
 * The actors in our group acted out a scenario showing integrity.[[image:IMG_0617.jpg width="176" height="268" align="right"]]
 * Alan Simpson says, “If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you have don’t integrity, nothing else matters”. We chewed that over and talked about what he meant.

**__Step 4: DO IT__**
 * We completed an Integrity Plan, thinking of one way we could show integrity this week.

**__Day Two__** __** Session 3: Getting Along with Others **__

**__Step 1: FEEL IT__** We started with “0800 YOU CHOOSE… and found that often we look on the outside appearance rather than who people are on the inside. All of us need to be accepted by someone. We face all sorts of choices every day about whether to accept or reject people… Leaders accept others. **__Step 2: KNOW IT__** We used a T Chart to look at Outward Qualities and Inward Qualities of people chosen to be leaders. We heard a story called “The Puppy Nobody Wanted”, which helped us try to understand others and see what is important to them, to accept others.

**__Step 3: BE IT__** We acted out some scenarios that showed what acceptance and rejection look like, feel like and sound like. Then we looked at some key things we could do to actively show our acceptance of other people this week. **__Step 4: DO IT__** We told others something unique about ourselves, something that isn’t obvious on the outside. Leaders know that friendships are often initially formed around similarities, but they are strengthened through celebrating similarities and differences. To make friends, you must first be friendly and take time to get to know others. [|Here are some tips for getting along.]

__** Session 4: How I Cope **__

**__Step 1: FEEL IT__** Find Your Way Home Barrier Game seemed straight forward, but it raised stress levels a bit! Everyone experiences stress in different ways every day. To be effective leaders we need to deal with stress. **__Step 2: KNOW IT__** Next we took a “Stress Rating” test. We found different things cause different people stress. We also found that some stress is caused by us, some by someone or something else, and some stress is caused by both us and others.

These are the people we figured we could talk to when we are stressed, since that’s the best action when you are stressed. Parents, grandparents, relatives, teachers, friends, pets, police, pets

**__Step 3: BE IT__** We identified some ways we stress and we checked out a plan to help us when we are stressed.

**__Step 4: DO IT__**

We figured out an area we are experiencing stress in at school and then made a stress plan of some things we might do to reduce the stress AND a person we’d talk to for advice.


 * __Day Three__ **


 * Session 5: The Choices I Make **



**__Step 1: FEEL IT__** “Decisions… decisions… decisions” was a fun way to start to think about the choices we make, but it had a serious message; The choices or decisions we make have an impact later on. “Speak to me, o wise one” was an opportunity for us to move into place in a line depending on whether we thought the decision was “Up to You” or time to get “People’s Advice.”

**__Step 2: KNOW IT__**

Some choices are moral choices. They have a choice between right and wrong, good and bad, true and false. They have one clear answer and are like going up a one way street. Other choices are multi-choice, there’s no clear answer and it’s like a T intersection… it’s helpful to apply a decision- making process.

**__Step 3: BE IT__** We checked out some scenarios, ranking the options from most negative to most positive outcomes.

**__Step 4: DO IT__**


 * Session 6: How I Serve Others **

**__Step 1: FEEL IT__**

We looked at pictures and quotes about different ways to lead.

Sometimes leadership is about serving people, not up front.

Sometimes leadership is about knowing our strengths and weaknesses and still contributing our small part to the whole puzzle.

Sometimes leadership involves being upfront and finishing what you start.

We used our Multiple Intelligences to think about qualities we have that will be useful as we help and serve others.

**__Step 2: KNOW IT__**

We watched a clip of Forest Gump saving his best good friend Bubba. He risked his own life trying to find Bubba.

We considered the sacrifices others would need to make for our wishes to come true.

**__Step 3: BE IT__**

[|Watch "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein] It’s a great picture of what leadership can be like when we serve. We thought about people we know who

• need some fun and encouragement, • some extra help, • some support as things at home aren’t too good, • where life is a little hard and a break will help, • and where people need a rest.

**__Step 4: DO IT__**

If you ever need a hand… You can count on mine!

**__Day Four__**

Session 7: Hearing from Leaders in our community **__The BIG Idea__**

We can learn from other leaders in our community.

**__Session goals__**

• Listen to visiting speakers who have a leadership role.

• Finding answers to our remaining questions about being leaders.

**__Our main thought__**

We can follow role models as we work out how to be leaders.

[|Sir Peter Blake talks about being a NZ leader]

[|Sam Johnson and Jason Pemberton talk about leading the Student Army in Christchurch Earthquake]

[|First Follower: Lessons about leadership]

[|Nick Vujicic is an inspiring leader!]

Session 8: Always a Leader: Bringing it all together

**__The BIG Idea__**

We are always leaders.

**__Session goals__**

• What we know about ourselves

• What we know about leaders

• To create a model to show others what we know about being a leader

**__Our main thought__**

We have the skills, the heart, hands, feet and words to lead.