FranklinCovey Education | Research

Student Leadership Portrait

The Core of Our Educational Approach

The Urgent Need for Leadership Skills in the Workforce

The global workforce is changing faster than ever. By 2030, nearly 40% of core job skills will be different from what they are today.¹ Employers across industries are facing a growing skills gap, where the competencies needed for success—like leadership, adaptability, and problem-solving—are not adequately developed in today’s students.

The Challenge: A Workforce Unprepared for the Future

70% of HR leaders report a skills gap in their organizations, a sharp increase from 55% just a few years ago.²
75% of employers say recent graduates lack critical skills like leadership, communication, and teamwork.³
The cost of onboarding and retraining new graduates now exceeds $4,500 per hire due to their lack of workplace readiness.⁴

As industries push for more technical expertise, it’s easy to overlook a deeper issue: the most pressing workforce gaps lie in leadership, not just technology.

Prepared to Thrive in College, Career, Community, and Life

The Student Leadership Portrait(SLP) is a research-based framework designed to equip students with essential leadership skills for a rapidly evolving world. This framework not only promotes academic achievement but also emphasizes the development of adaptable, future-ready leaders.

Our methodology begins with a comprehensive focus on well-being, establishing a solid foundation for personal and interpersonal growth. Through engagement in real-world scenarios, students develop critical skills such as responsibility, vision, and higher-order thinking. This approach ensures that students are not merely learning about leadership but actively practicing it in every interaction, enhancing their empathy, communication, and teamwork abilities.

Whole Person Paradigm: The Foundation of Life and Academic Success

At the core of the Student Leadership Portrait lies the Whole-Person Paradigm. This paradigm recognizes each student as a unique individual encompassing four dimensions—body, mind, heart, and spirit—ensuring that every aspect of their growth is interconnected and balanced.

The Whole-Person Paradigm establishes the principles for developing all skills and competencies within the Student Leadership Portrait. Not only does it promote academic excellence, but it also establishes a resilient foundation for lifelong well-being. By nurturing innate strengths and addressing individual needs, it empowers students to thrive both personally and professionally. Prioritizing the whole student, the Student Leadership Portrait cultivates resilience, empathy, and critical thinking. These are essential skills for navigating and succeeding in an ever-evolving world. This holistic approach lays the groundwork for sustained personal growth and meaningful community impact, ensuring that students are prepared to lead with purpose and adaptability throughout their lives.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

A.B. Combs Student Alumni Reflect

In this heartfelt discussion, students and alumni from A.B. Combs Magnet Elementary School reflect on the profound impact of the school’s leadership philosophy, encapsulated in the quote, “You are seen, you are known, and you are loved.” They emphasize the importance of celebrating each individual’s unique cultural and personal background, creating an inclusive community where everyone feels a sense of belonging.

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The Inner Circle

The SLP inner circle competencies equip students for both current learning and future success. A student with these competencies possesses the personal and interpersonal leadership skills to make meaningful contributions throughout their lives. Personal effectiveness competencies empower students to create and realize a profound life vision. Interpersonal effectiveness competencies enable them to communicate effectively, build trusting relationships, and collaborate with diverse individuals.

The Outer Circle

The outer circle of the SLP represents advanced competencies built upon the foundational skills of the inner circle. Mastery of inner circle competencies is essential for success in the outer circle. These advanced skills involve applying inner circle competencies to lead oneself and others. “Lead Self” focuses on personal development and meaningful contributions, while “Lead Others” emphasizes effective leadership and building high-trust teams. Thus, the outer circle signifies the practical application of foundational competencies.

Student Leadership Portrait

Competencies Defined

Personal Effectiveness Learn More

Responsibility

The ability to be aware of one’s actions and their impact, take proactive steps toward achieving goals, and manage emotions effectively.

Vision

The ability to imagine a meaningful future outcome and create a plan to get there.

Prioritization

The ability to plan and allocate one’s time based on goals and values, and to show the discipline to follow through.

Higher-Order Thinking

The ability to evaluate information, reflect on one’s own thought processes, creatively solve complex problems, and lead one’s learning.

Interpersonal Effectiveness Learn More

Relationship Building

The ability to develop relationships through consistent interactions that build trust and that balance one’s personal needs with the needs of others.

Communication

The ability to reach mutual understanding with others, convey thoughts clearly, and effectively use body language to communicate.

Empathy

The ability to understand and respect other people’s thoughts and feelings with the intent to see their perspective.

Collaboration

The ability to work together in a way that draws on everyone’s unique strengths and ideas in order to find the best solution.

Lead Self Learn More

Develop Strengths

The ability to identify one’s own talents and areas of passion and the determination to develop them.

Actively Contribute

The awareness and ability to connect one’s own unique talents and strengths to a need in the world and take principled action that creates positive change.

Acheive Goals

The ability to set a focused goal, identify the steps to take, track progress, and accomplish the desired outcome.

Foster Wellness

The commitment to consistently grow one’s own capacity through intentional choices that promote balance and resilience.

Lead Others Learn More

Cultivate Trust

The ability to model both character and competence in a way that builds trust and inspires confidence.

Align Teams

The ability to organize people, resources, and systems to successfully execute a plan.

Share Purpose

The ability to work with others to develop and communicate a compelling vision and actionable plan.

Empower Potential

The ability to encourage others to use their gifts and talents to contribute to the team’s purpose.

Life and Leadership Skills

The skills organizations are seeking in their employees are universal. Whether referred to as soft, employability, or essential skills, these competencies are a combination of people skills, social skills, communication skills, character or personality traits, attitudes, career attributes, social intelligence, and emotional intelligence quotients.

LIFE SKILLS IN ACTION

Teen Leadership Institute

Join us as participants share their inspiring experiences with Leader in Me‘s Teen Leadership Institute! Hear firsthand how the program has helped young leaders build confidence, resilience, and essential life skills. Through engaging workshops and hands-on activities, the Teen Leadership Institute empowers teens to develop their unique potential, connect meaningfully with peers and younger students, and make a positive impact in their communities. Discover how this transformative experience has equipped these young leaders with tools to face challenges, set goals, and lead with purpose and passion!

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Resource Hub

To support your school’s growth and continuous improvement, we’ve created the Research-to-Practice Resource Hub, where you’ll find a curated collection of multimedia content designed to support your journey. Browse videos featuring expert insights, read in-depth articles unpacking key concepts and evidence, listen to thought-provoking podcasts, and access practical tools and resources, and bibliographies.

Whether you’re looking to deepen your understanding or find actionable strategies, these resources will help you translate research into meaningful practice.

Click Below to Start Exploring Today.

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