What do you think of when you hear the term “Presentation Skills”?

Is it:

• Standing in front of a group?

• Reading from a slide?

• Delivering your message to a group?

Alternatively, do you see it as something more robust and powerful?

From a leader’s perspective, presentation skills are the engine of influence.

It’s about the ability to take an idea and move it from one mind into another.

How student leaders use presentation skills

Whether a student is speaking to the whole school or just persuading two peers in a group, they are learning how to use their voice to make an impact.

As a teacher, you don’t need to turn every lesson into a formal speech competition.

But there are so many opportunities to build kids’ verbal skills.

Start by lowering the threat level

Your immediate goal should be to lower the threat level of speaking while raising the skill level of communication.

When you give students low-stakes opportunities to find their voice, you aren’t just teaching them to talk; we’re teaching them that what they have to say actually matters.

There are many ways you can harness your students’ ability to present their ideas without it becoming a high-pressure event.

Here are five simple ways to get started.

1. Employ The 1-Minute Microphone

Most of the fear in public speaking comes from the unknown of being the centre of attention.

Break that fear with the 1-Minute Microphone.

At the end of a lesson, ask a student to give a sixty-second summary of what the class just learned.

No notes, no podium—just one minute of clear, concise sharing.

It turns presenting into a normal, daily habit rather than a scary event.

2. Focus on The Hook

Experienced speakers know that if you don’t grab people in the first ten seconds, you’ve lost them.

Instead of a full speech, have students practice just the Hook.

If they were going to talk about the environment or a book they read, what is the one sentence they would use to make their classmates lean in?

This teaches them the power of engagement and the importance of thinking about their audience first.

3. Have Fun With The Silent Speaker

So much of a presentation happens before a student even opens their mouth.

Have a Silent Speaker challenge in which a student conveys an emotion or a simple instruction using only their posture and eye contact.

It’s a fun, low-pressure way to teach them that presence is about how you carry yourself, not just the words you say.

4. Practise Peer-to-Peer Pitching

Leadership often happens in small huddles.

Have students practice “pitching” an idea to a partner or a small group.

If they want to change a classroom rule or suggest a new game for PE, they must present a 30-second case.

This shifts the focus from performance to persuasion, demonstrating that their voice is a tool for change.

5. Feed The Feedback Loop with Gold Stars and Growth Points

To improve, student leaders need to know what’s working.

Instead of you giving all the feedback, have the class identify one Gold Star (something the speaker did well, such as eye contact) and one Growth Point (something to try next time, such as slowing down).

This builds a culture where speaking is seen as a craft that can be practised and improved, rather than a talent you’re either born with or you’re not.

Why this Matters

Focusing on presentation skills isn't about adding public speaking to an already crowded curriculum; it’s about refining the communication that is already happening in your room.

By weaving these five habits into your day, you are doing the vital work of ensuring every student leaves your classroom with the confidence to be heard.

You aren't creating more work for yourself—you're simply giving your students the volume they need to lead.

Final Call: 2026 Intake Closes This Friday

The habits of Presentational Intelligence, Emotional Intelligence, and Organisation aren’t just “extra” skills—they are the vital work of building a self-governing school culture.

Our intake is designed to help schools launch their leadership initiatives in a coordinated fashion. To maintain this schedule and ensure all student materials are ready for immediate use, Young Leaders Program intake will officially close this Friday at 5:00 PM.

This is your final opportunity to secure your 2026 materials:

• Starter Pack: Year 5 foundation.

• Premium Pack: Years 5 & 6 alignment.

• Premium Plus: The full suite for Years 5, 6, and your elected leaders.

Secure your school’s access here before the portal closes on Friday

Secure 2026 Program Access Here

Leadership isn’t just about tasks; it’s about people.

A student leader with high Emotional Intelligence can read the room, understand their own reactions, and respond to others with empathy.

Teaching Emotional Intelligence begins with establishing a shared language in the classroom for how we feel and how we interact. 

When students grasp their own emotions, they become much better at managing themselves—and significantly more effective at leading others.

Here are five simple ways to integrate Emotional Intelligence into your daily classroom routine.

1. Use the Feelings Finder to check in.

It is a basic truth of leadership and teaching that you cannot manage what you haven’t first identified.

When a classroom feels chaotic or sluggish, our instinct is often to override the mood with authority or entertainment.

However, if you want to build true capability in our students, you need to shift the focus from us managing their behaviour to them identifying their own internal states.

The most effective way to do this is to teach students to take a quick feelings check. This isn’t about deep therapy; it is about providing a simple language for self-awareness.

Ask students to identify if they are currently:

• Red (High Energy / Uncomfortable): Feeling agitated, frustrated, or overwhelmed.

• Blue (Low Energy / Uncomfortable): Feeling tired, sad, or disinterested.

• Green (Low Energy / Comfortable): Feeling calm, relaxed, and receptive.

• Orange (High Energy / Comfortable): Feeling excited, motivated, and ready to move.

This simple habit teaches more than just vocabulary. When a student can say, I’m in the red today, they are taking the first step toward self-regulation before a conflict even starts. It allows them to recognise their own internal weather and adjust accordingly.

2. Teach kids how to say nothing at all

In the heat of a group project, the difference between a leader and a bystander is often found in what is not said.

We frequently focus on teaching students how to speak up, but the more sophisticated leadership skill is knowing when to pause.

True influence is built on the muscle of self-control. When a student can move from being a reactive participant to a deliberate leader, they change the entire dynamic of the room.

The Science behind the 90-Second Rule

To help students master their reactions, we need to teach them the biology of their emotions. A physical wave of emotion—the chemical surge of adrenaline or cortisol—actually only lasts about 90 seconds in the body.

When a student feels a flash of anger because a peer isn’t pulling their weight, or frustration because an idea was rejected, that “heat” is a temporary physiological event. The problem isn’t the 90-second wave; it’s the “story” we tell ourselves afterward that keeps the wave crashing for hours.

Implementing the 90-Second Pause

If a group project gets heated, encourage your students to call a 90-second pause before anyone responds to a provocation. This isn’t a “time-out” in the traditional sense; it is a strategic leadership tool.

During those 90 seconds, encourage students to:

• Identify the sensation: Recognise the “Red” energy without acting on it.

• Breathe through the surge: Let the chemical spike dissipate naturally.

• Choose the response: Move from the emotional brain back into the logical, “Green” zone where problem-solving happens.

This practice stops reactive leadership in its tracks. A student who can wait out their own internal storm is far more likely to practice high-level Emotional Intelligence and Teamwork. They learn that they don’t have to be slaves to their first impulse.

By mastering the pause, students develop the internal durability required to lead others through high-pressure situations. They realise that while they cannot always control the “heat” of the moment, they have total control over their own temperature.

3. Show kids how to pivot their perspective - a powerful tool if ever there was one

Conflict between students is the true test of emotional intelligence.

In the heat of a disagreement, most students simply react—they’ll fight, take flight, or freeze.

These are primal responses, not leadership ones.

When we only step in to referee the fight, we miss a vital opportunity to build their internal durability and social competence.

To move beyond the cycle of blame, we must teach students to take a different tack.

Moving Beyond the Primal Reaction

When a conflict arises, your goal is to move students from their reactive brain to their thinking brain.

This requires a sophisticated skill known as the Perspective Pivot.

The Perspective Pivot is the foundation of empathy, but it is also a high-level practical tool for teamwork. It moves a student from a position of “I’m right” to a position of “I understand why you’re upset.” This is the only place where real, lasting solutions are found.

How to Facilitate the Perspective Pivot

Instead of asking “What happened?” (which usually leads to a list of grievances), try this three-step approach:

1. The Cooling-Off Period: Use the 90-second rule to let the initial chemical surge of the “Red” zone dissipate. You cannot pivot your perspective while your brain is in survival mode.

2. The Role Reversal: Ask each student to describe the situation specifically from the other person’s point of view. They must use “I” statements as if they were their peer. For example: “I felt frustrated because I thought I was doing all the work on the poster.”

3. The Validation Step: Once the other person’s view has been voiced, the focus shifts to finding common ground. The question becomes: “Now that we both see the two different sides, what is our plan to move forward?”

The Perspective Pivot is one of the hardest leadership skills to master because it requires a student to temporarily set aside their own ego.

However, a student who can see the world through another person’s eyes is well on their way to mastering Emotional Intelligence and Teamwork.

By encouraging this pivot, you aren’t just settling a playground dispute; you are equipping them to lead diverse groups for the rest of their lives.

4. Recognise the quiet contributor

Great leadership is often about what you notice, not just what you say.

By default, most of us—adults and students alike—tend to focus on the most vocal people in the room.

However, true influence is found in the ability to see the entire group, not just the loudest members.

To build genuine social awareness, set a specific challenge for your student leaders: find the invisible student.

Your Inclusion Challenge

In any group project or team activity, task your leaders with identifying the person who hasn’t shared an idea or looks a bit overwhelmed. Their job isn’t to take over, but to actively bring that person into the conversation.

This simple shift in focus moves a student leader from “managing a task” to “managing a team.” It reinforces several key building blocks:

• Teamwork: Realising that a project is only as strong as its quietest contributor.

• Emotional Intelligence: Developing the “radar” to read the room and sense when someone is retreating.

• Responsibility: Understanding that a leader’s primary duty is to ensure the whole team is functioning, not just the high-energy participants.

When a student learns to look for the person on the margins, they are practising a sophisticated form of leadership. They are learning that their role is to create a space where everyone belongs.

By championing the quiet voices, they aren’t just finishing a task—they are building a stronger, more capable community.

5. Model The Mistake Reset

How a student leader handles a blunder defines the entire team’s culture. If the atmosphere is one of blame, students will hide their errors. But if the focus is on growth, they develop the internal durability to move forward.

The key is to move from a reactive mindset to a reset mindset.

Yes, your students are watching!

Students watch how you respond when a lesson plan goes off the rails or a technology glitch occurs.

When things go wrong, demonstrate a calm reset rather than an emotional reaction.

This models the high-level Emotional Intelligence required to lead under pressure.

Focus on Repair, Not Reprimand

When a student makes a mistake that impacts the group, shift the conversation immediately to the solution.

Instead of focusing on the “why” of the failure, focus on the “how” of the fix.

Ask one simple question: “How can we make this right?”

This approach reinforces the most vital building blocks of leadership:

• Responsibility: It shifts the focus from guilt to action.

• Teamwork: It prioritises group harmony over personal ego.

• Organisation: It encourages a practical plan to get back on track.

True leadership isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being responsible for your impact on others.

When you prioritise repair over reprimand, you teach students that mistakes are simply data points on the road to capability.

Why Emotional Intelligence matters

Developing Emotional Intelligence is the ultimate “work smarter, not harder” strategy for teachers.

When students can manage their own emotions and empathise with others, classroom management becomes a shared responsibility rather than a solo burden.

By focusing on these five areas, you are doing the vital work of building a compassionate, self-regulating community.

It’s not an extra task; it’s the foundation that makes everything else in your classroom possible.

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Building the “Heart” of your 2026 Leadership Team - Final days!!!!

The self-regulation and empathy habits we’ve discussed today are the hardest—but most rewarding—parts of student leadership.

If you want to bring this level of emotional maturity to your school this year, don’t wait.

***We are now in the final 12 days of our 2026 intake.***

Whether you are focusing on your Year 5 foundation, creating a consistent language across Years 5 & 6, or giving your elected leaders the specialised support they deserve, ensure your school is part of this final cohort before the portal closes.

Secure your 2026 program access here before the window closes.

Secure 2026 Program Access Here

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Dear teacher,

This Guide is for students, so it’s written in the second person. Feel free to copy, paste and print the article for students.

Alternatively, it will provide insights and ideas for the teacher(s) assisting students with their election speeches.

Congratulations on running for a school leadership position. It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn and grow.

An essential part of being elected is giving a winning election speech.

A good election speech can take you a long way toward becoming a leader or captain in your school.

To give a compelling student election speech, you need to prepare well, practise hard and present with confidence.

Here’s a simple guide to helping you give a great school captain’s (or other leadership position) speech:

Preparing The Election Speech

1. Understand The Audience

Before writing your speech, take a moment to understand your audience, including classmates, teachers, and other school staff with diverse interests and concerns. Think about what matters to your peers, such as school events, lunchtime activities, or ways to build a supportive school community.

2. Define Your Goals

Consider what you want to achieve as school captain, such as organising more events, improving communication between students and teachers, or creating a more inclusive environment.

Write down a few key goals that you hope to accomplish if elected. This is the backbone of your school captain election speech.

3. Craft Your Message

Begin drafting your speech following this simple Easy Talk Planner* structure:

Introduction: Start with a friendly greeting and introduce yourself. Share a little bit about your background, such as your interests and previous experiences related to leadership, to make your speech relatable and engaging

Body: Clearly outline your ideas and goals. Briefly explain why they matter and how you plan to achieve them. For example, if you’re focusing on organising more events, mention specific ideas like talent shows, themed spirit days, or charity drives.

Conclusion: Wrap up your speech with a strong closing statement. Reiterate why you want to be the school captain and how you will work hard to represent your peers. Make a strong appeal for their support, leading to a confident call to action.

4. Use Positive Language

Throughout your speech, use positive and encouraging language. Be inspiring and optimistic to show your passion for making your school a better place. Avoid negative comments about others and focus on providing solutions to problems.

5. Include a Personal Story

If relevant, a brief story about an experience that shaped your desire to lead can help your speech resonate with your audience and show that you understand the school environment.

Please make sure to remember the following tips for preparing, practising, and delivering your speech as a candidate for the school captain position:

Practising The School Captain Election Speech

1. Read Aloud

After drafting your speech, read it aloud at least three times to familiarise yourself with the wording, check for natural flow, and adjust for clarity.

2. Time Yourself

Keep your speech to about two to three minutes, and practice timing yourself to ensure you cover all essential points without losing the audience’s interest.

3. Practise in Front of Others

Once you’re comfortable with the content, practise with family or friends and ask for feedback on your delivery and content.

Say it, don’t read it. Remember the main points, and don’t try to memorise word for word.

4. Rehearse with Body Language

Stand and use gestures and expressions to emphasise key points and show enthusiasm and confidence. Practise standing with your two feet apart, and make sure you stand still rather than changing feet while speaking.

5. Film Yourself

If possible, record yourself practising the speech to identify areas for improvement in your delivery, such as pacing (too fast), tone (too serious, many ums and ahs), and body language (head, hands, stance). Watch the video again and see if there is anything you can improve.

Presenting The School Captain Election Speech

1. Prepare Your Mindset

On the day of your speech, calm your nerves and remind yourself that the audience wants you to succeed. Don’t panic if you feel nervous. This is natural. The other students who are giving a school captain election speech will be nervous, too.

Take some big, deep belly breaths to calm yourself down.

2. Arrive Early

Get to the speech venue early to familiarise yourself with the space, check audio-visual equipment, and practice with any necessary materials. If you can, spend a few minutes standing in the spot where you’ll give your school captain election speech. This is an excellent way of preparing for your speech.

3. Begin with Confidence

Walk confidently to the front, take a deep breath, smile, and greet your audience warmly. Take a few seconds before you start. Make sure you are comfortable before you begin speaking.

4. Pace Yourself

Speak clearly and at a moderate pace, pausing briefly between points to emphasise key messages. Many students rush their school captain election speeches because they want them finished.

Take your time. Don’t rush, and you’ll make a great impression.

5. Finish Strongly

Conclude with conviction, thank your audience, and tell them you’d like them to vote for you. Reassure them that if they vote for you, school captaincy will be in great hands.

Finally…..

Whether you’re elected or not, preparing, practising, and delivering a speech as a school captain candidate is a valuable experience.

You can inspire your peers to support you on your leadership journey by articulating your ideas clearly and passionately.

Embrace this moment as a chance to lead and contribute positively to your school community.

Enjoy, and good luck with your school captain election speech!

Do you know a teacher who would benefit from reading this article?

It’s easy to share.

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Effective leadership development needs three core components:

• A clear, structured framework for building foundational skills. Speaking confidently is a critical feature of strong leadership, and we develop this by focusing on Presentation Skills—one of the five foundations of leadership in the Young Leaders Program.

• Active mentorship and modelling to accelerate growth

• Engaging, inclusive activities that resonate with every student

The Young Leaders Program delivers on all of these—it’s a highly effective, time-saving, and affordable solution that empowers your students to lead with a confident voice.

We offer a variety of packages to fit your school’s budget, ensuring you can find the perfect fit.

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