5 Leadership Development Activities for Tween & Teen Girls That Actually Work

Real Skills, Real Growth & Real-World Confidence)

When we think about leadership, it’s easy to picture someone with a mic in hand or the loudest voice in the room. But here’s the truth: leadership looks different for every girl.

It can be quiet or bold. Visionary or behind-the-scenes. What matters most? That girls feel empowered to use their voice, stand in their values, and lead in a way that feels real for them.

These five leadership development activities are designed to help tweens and teens discover their strengths, take ownership of their choices, and build the kind of confidence that lasts—whether they’re in the classroom, on a team, or standing up for a friend.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Leadership is a skill that grows through practice, not perfection

• Tween & teen girls thrive with hands-on, reflective activities

• Every girl leads differently—these activities honor all leadership styles

• Perfect for groups, clubs, classrooms, or empowerment programs

• Encourages voice, vision, empathy, and decision-making

1. Leadership Superpowers Map

What You’ll Need: Large paper, markers, optional stickers

Girls create a visual “map” of their leadership strengths.
Prompts to include:

• 3 things I’m good at

• What people come to me for

• When I feel most like a leader

• A leadership value I stand by (kindness, creativity, courage, etc.)

Let them decorate and present their map to the group if they feel comfortable.

📝 Why it works: Girls begin to own their unique leadership style and build language around their strengths.

2. Lead the Way Role Rotation

What You’ll Need: A group project or small group challenge (team-building activity, planning an event, or leading a discussion)

Assign rotating leadership roles like:

• Timekeeper

• Encourager

• Discussion leader

• Note taker

• Decision-maker

After the activity, debrief:

What was easy? What was hard? How did it feel to lead in that role?

📝 Why it works: Gives girls a safe, low-pressure way to practice leadership—then reflect on their experience.

3. Values Voting Line

What You’ll Need: Signs that say “Agree,” “Disagree,” “Not Sure” and a list of values-based statements

Read aloud statements like:

• “Leaders always have to be in charge.”

• “It’s okay to make mistakes as a leader.”

• “Empathy is more important than confidence.”

Girls physically move to show where they stand—then reflect and discuss why.

📝 Why it works: Encourages critical thinking, active listening, and exploring what leadership means to them.

4. Design a Leadership Project

What You’ll Need: A planning template or journal

Girls brainstorm and outline a mini leadership project around something they care about:

• Start a kindness campaign

• Tutor a younger student

• Organize a supply drive

• Host a group discussion on a topic that matters

Let them plan step-by-step: Who, what, when, how, and why this matters.

📝 Why it works: Helps girls turn ideas into impact—and builds real-world leadership confidence.

5. “Dear Future Me” Letter

What You’ll Need: Stationery or journals, envelopes

Have girls write a letter to their future leader-self—6 months or a year from now. Prompts can include:

• “The kind of leader I hope to become is…”

• “Something I want to be brave enough to try is…”

• “Here’s what I hope I’ve learned, done, or become.”

Seal the letters and offer to send them later—or have them keep it somewhere safe as a reminder.

📝 Why it works: Encourages vision, intention, and belief in their leadership journey.

Want to Make Leadership Development Easy, Fun & Impactful?

The FearlesslyGiRL Program Kits include everything you need to run empowering leadership sessions—journaling prompts, group activities, self-reflection tools, and facilitator guides. Perfect for after-school clubs, summer workshops, or classroom leadership circles.

Because girls don’t need to be perfect to lead.
They just need someone to believe in them—and the space to discover what leadership means to them.

And that someone? Is you.

– Kate