How 4-H Builds Youth Leadership Skills Through Teamwork - Maddie Gray

Send Fan Mail by Text!Full transcript and show notes: https://www.sharnafabiano.com/2026/07/29/how-4-h-builds-youth-leadership-skills-through-teamwork-maddie-gray/ Long before people have a job title, youth programs can teach them how to step forward, support others, and handle the challenges of working with a team. Maddie Gray shares how fifteen years in 4-H shaped her understanding of when to take initiative, when to support a teammate, and how strong teams depend on people who can move between roles.Maddie Gray is a Leadership & Organizational Studies major at the University of Southern Maine and a member of the USM Collegiate Leadership Competition team. She has been involved with 4-H for fifteen years, where she developed skills through public speaking competitions, team experiences, and youth leadership opportunities. Her perspective offers a firsthand look at how young people learn to contribute, communicate, and grow through shared responsibility.In this episode, you’ll learn:How youth leadership programs help people develop confidence before they have formal authorityWhy rotating leadership roles can strengthen team communicationHow to approach difficult conversations with teammatesWhy accepting a support role can be just as important as taking chargeEpisode References Ira Chaleff, The Courageous Follower https://www.amazon.com/Courageous-Follower-Standing-Our-Leaders/dp/1605092738/4-H Youth Development Organizationhttps://4-h.org/Dancing Guy – First Follower Videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW8amMCVAJQ Support the show*Sharna Fabiano is the author of Lead & Follow: The Dance of Inspired Teamwork and host of the Lead & Follow Podcast. She helps founders, solopreneurs, and new leaders build strong collaborative relationships and successful teams. Get a discounted coach session with Sharna with promo code PODCAST https://www.sharnafabiano.com/coaching/Order the book: Lead & Followhttps://www.amazon.com/Lead-Follow-Dance-Inspired-Teamwork/dp/1646632796/Support the Show!https://www.buzzsprout.com/1735834/support