Skills Guide
Teaching: Leadership in Groups
Leadership in Groups
WhyTry Units:
Why This Skill Matters
Leadership in groups is a resilience skill because it teaches students how to use influence responsibly. All students influence group dynamics, whether intentionally or not. Without leadership skills, students may follow negative peer leaders, disengage, or misuse influence. Teaching leadership helps students recognize their impact on others and empowers them to contribute positively, advocate for themselves, and support group success.
Student Challenges This Skill Helps Address
- Following negative peer leaders
- Difficulty speaking up or taking initiative
- Misuse of influence within groups
- Passive disengagement
How WhyTry Builds This Skill
WhyTry develops leadership through Peer Influence & Positive Relationships, where students examine group dynamics and peer pressure. Responsibility & Self-Discipline reinforces leadership by emphasizing accountability and follow-through, while Support Systems & Relationship Building highlights collaboration and mutual support. Facilitators help students practice leadership behaviors such as encouragement, boundary-setting, and responsible decision-making.
Peer Influence & Positive Relationships
(“Climbing Out”)
In Peer Influence & Positive Relationships, leadership is framed as influence rather than position. Facilitators help students recognize how their behavior impacts group dynamics and how leadership can be used to build others up or pull them down. Processing emphasizes responsible influence, decision-making within groups, and the courage to lead positively—even when it’s uncomfortable.
Responsibility & Self-Discipline
(“Lift the Weight”)
Responsibility & Self-Discipline reinforces leadership by connecting influence to accountability. Facilitators guide students to reflect on how leaders model consistency, follow-through, and self-control. Processing highlights that leadership requires reliability and integrity, which are built through disciplined choices.
Support Systems & Relationship Building
(“Plugging In”)
In Support Systems & Relationship Building, leadership is reinforced through collaboration and connection. Facilitators help students recognize that effective leaders seek input, build trust, and support others. Processing emphasizes leadership as a relational skill that strengthens group resilience.