{"id":11453,"date":"2025-08-31T04:10:36","date_gmt":"2025-08-31T04:10:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/?p=11453"},"modified":"2025-08-31T04:10:36","modified_gmt":"2025-08-31T04:10:36","slug":"what-if-leadership-started-with-knowing-yourself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/what-if-leadership-started-with-knowing-yourself\/","title":{"rendered":"What If Leadership Started with Knowing Yourself?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For international school students navigating a world of shifting identities, academic pressure, and global connection, developing a strong sense of self is essential. In environments shaped by mobility, diversity, and high expectations, emotional intelligence isn\u2019t just helpful\u2014it\u2019s foundational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why The Best Version of Me workshops place self-awareness and emotional literacy at the centre of student development. These workshops align strongly with the International Baccalaureate (IB) philosophy, particularly its emphasis on personal growth, learner agency, and reflective practice. Whether schools are offering the PYP, MYP or DP, this framework supports the IB mission to develop \u201cinquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people\u201d who are ready to contribute to a more peaceful world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Kings Baptist Grammar School in South Australia, this program has been embedded into the Middle School experience. Across a full school year, students take part in termly sessions exploring emotional intelligence through themes such as personal values, goal-setting, self-management, and relationship building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This isn\u2019t just about leadership training\u2014it\u2019s about life skills. All students engage in the workshops, regardless of whether they hold a formal role. The aim is to help them understand who they are and how they want to show up in their relationships, schools, and communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those in elected leadership positions, the journey is extended through additional sessions that apply emotional intelligence in practical leadership settings\u2014teamwork, communication under pressure, and leading with purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Katina, Deputy Head of Middle School at Kings Baptist, shared:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Best Version of Me workshops have empowered our Year 6 students and Years 7\u20139 House Captains to build confidence and develop a stronger sense of self by reflecting on their personal values, strengths and areas for continuous growth. Through interactive sessions they have learnt how to set meaningful goals and lead with purpose. These workshops have been a powerful tool to enable personal growth and leadership development, helping students to emerge and flourish as leaders. I could not recommend this program enough.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program is highly adaptable to different international contexts. Whether delivered in a single term or across a full year, The Best Version of Me provides schools with a structured yet flexible platform for developing confident, reflective and emotionally intelligent young people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your school is seeking new ways to nurture authentic leadership, deepen student wellbeing, or strengthen IB-aligned personal development\u2014The Best Version of Me could be a valuable next step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more or explore partnership opportunities, visit Global Community Sports or reach out directly via our contact page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Author<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rick Shrowder is the founder of Global Community Sports, a South Australian-based organisation working across Australia, India and the UK to empower communities through sport and education. With 25 years of experience in coaching, mentoring and youth development, Rick has led projects in over 70 schools, universities and community settings\u2014building programs that champion inclusion, empathy and personal growth.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connect with Rick at www.globalcommunitysports.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For international school students navigating a world of shifting identities, academic pressure, and global connection, developing a strong sense of self is essential. In environments shaped by mobility, diversity, and high expectations, emotional intelligence isn\u2019t just helpful\u2014it\u2019s foundational. That\u2019s why The Best Version of Me workshops place self-awareness and emotional literacy at the centre of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11456,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[3179,3181,3180,798,800,3178,1421],"class_list":["post-11453","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-great-resource","tag-dp","tag-global-community-sports","tag-ib-mission","tag-myp","tag-pyp","tag-the-best-version-of-me","tag-workshops"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-31-at-13.36.52.png?fit=2042%2C1776&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2flVT-2YJ","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9083,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/introducing-educators-going-global-a-new-resource-in-our-global-community\/","url_meta":{"origin":11453,"position":0},"title":"Introducing Educators Going Global – A New Resource in Our Global Community","author":"ISCommunity","date":"March 19, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Where \u2013 besides the International School Community \u2013 do you go to learn about and stay connected to International Education? 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