DECA: teaching leadership skills for business success

Every DECA member has the scope to acquire leadership ability: the motivational, communication, organizational and teamwork skills required for business success. This development takes place both in the classroom and in complementary DECA activities outside class.

A bridge of leadership skills helps members advance from technical, cognitive classroom learning to operational abilities that put these narrow skills to broader use. Leadership traits learned in the classroom, in DECA chapter functions, in DECA competition, and in a wide array of committee-focused activities enable members to develop into the complete employees businesses depend on, employees who can complete projects and cooperate with their colleagues at all levels.

Essential leadership skills

Communicating effectively
	Basic language skills
	Reading for information
	Writing reports, promotional material, advertisements
	Effective speaking
	Active listening
	Nonverbal clues: appropriate enthusiasm, confidence

Solving problems (challenge management)

	Analysis
	Identifying resources
	Decision-making
	Creativity

Working as a team
	Organization
	Creating a plan
	Committee operations
	Delegation
	Conflict management and consensus building
	Emotional intelligence

Managing resources

	Time
	Finances
	Information

Acquiring specific leadership knowledge
	Meeting-management procedures and techniques
	Officer roles
	Parliamentary procedure
	Developing a program of work

Appreciating and understanding ethics
	Being a far-sighted and responsible member of the business community
	Inspiring and educating others to respect and promote ethical behavior

DECA develops leadership skills in a career nexus

DECA nurtures leadership skills through chapter events and activities

Whether fund-raising events, travel, community service, chapter promotion, outreach to the business community or any other chapter activity, DECA members learn leadership skills through planning, committee work, and communicating with others.

DECA's competitive events give ample opportunity for acquiring leadership skills.

	Role-play scenarios/case studies
	Individual Series Events:

	Communicating effectively
	Solving problems
	Managing resources (time and information)

Management Team Decision-Making Events:

All of the above, plus working as a team

Written Events:

	Communicating effectively
	Solving problems
	Managing resources (time and information) plus
	Working as a team for Chapter Team Events and when participants enter any competitive event as a team
	Many of the written events, chief among them the Community Service Project, directly address ethical understanding and sensitivity

Recognition: The Competitive Events Program also provides recognition for those who succeed at all levels. In doing so, it rewards the leadership skills that have contributed to achievement through the events.

Chapter officers learn leadership skills while operating a DECA chapter.

	Assuming office
	Developing a program of work

	Many officer teams help their advisors draw up a program of work for the chapter each year. They may also involve the other chapter members in aspects of the process as they plan and enlist support.
	The chief leadership skills involved are communicating effectively, working as a team, managing resources, and acquiring leadership knowledge.

Holding chapter meetings

Acquiring specific leadership knowledge

Overseeing committees

Acquiring specific leadership knowledge

DECA offers leadership-training sessions at its conferences.

	Each of the four fall regional leadership conferences provides specific leadership training.
	At the international level, DECA operates several leadership academies for chapter and state officers at its annual International Career Development Conference.
	The LEADS Academy (Leadership, Education and Development Series) for state officers.
	The Leadership Development Academy for potential and elected chapter officers and leaders
	The Senior Management Institute (with its Executive Mentor Program) for seniors heading toward college and careers.

DECA provides members a special opportunity to model business leadership at its Executive Mentor Program.

The innovative Executive Mentor Program at DECA's Senior Management Institute deserves special mention. In this round-table format, attendees interact with business leaders from the highest levels of top corporations. As they circulate from table to table, students gain an intimate, multi-faceted understanding of the lives and careers of the business executives, an invaluable insight into career possibilities and realities.

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