Getting Introverted Girls Participate in Troop Meetings

As a troop leader of younger Girl Scouts, the one thing I realized right away was that there were those girls that were confident and those that were a lot more introverted this year. I really want to build girl that have a strong sense of courage, confidence, and character but that's a lot easier sometimes said than done. 

I also realized that not every girl is going to be super vocal, always eager to participate, or a social butterfly. So knowing this how do you make sure that your quieter girls feel welcomed, included and encouraged too? 

Here are some tips on how to support your introverted/quiet troop members:

Ease into it

Introverted people tend to be inwardly focused. This means that they might not be the first ones to try something new. It also means you might not know if they’re not interested in the activity or what the other girls are doing or if they are and they are just too quiet to say anything. 

These girls also sometimes just need a minute to process their surroundings and take in what’s going on. Don't be afraid to let these girls know it’s okay to stay on the sidelines for a little bit before jumping into what's going on at the meeting. 

Remember if you force introverts to do something before they’re comfortable, they might clam up, feel even more hesitant to try or worse no longer want to be a part of the troop.

There are always different ways to participate 

When you learn to tailor meetings to your group, you'll find you have a more well-rounded program. Vary your activities so that girls are sometimes working individually, in pairs, or as a large group. 

Many people confuse their terms, being introverted isn’t the same as being shy or aloof—introverts like being around other people they just have different emotions attached to those interactions! Too much time with others can zap their energy and introverts need time to recharge by taking some down time by themselves or taking time to just take in what's happened.

Give everyone a voice 

For introverted girls, it can be easy to be overlooked (or over-shouted!) by the more extroverted ones who are quicker to raise their hands and offer their opinion or just shout out the answers. 

Most introverts need time to think over an idea and might feel uncomfortable or tipped over when put on the spot. This is why I love  the think, pair, share technique to make sure that everyone has a chance to contribute:

Think: 

Girls think independently about the question or topic and come up with their own ideas.

Pair: 

Girls break off into pairs or small groups and share their ideas with each other.

Share: 

Girls share their ideas to the larger group.

Respect her limits 

Your introverted scouts might be reluctant to try new things or meet new people. This does not mean you should not nudging them out of their comfort zone. Always take time to validate their feelings and encourage her without being pushy. 

If she doesn’t go for it at today's meeting, try again next time. And when she does take a risk, always praise her efforts.

It's important to allow all girls to realize their potential as future leaders—and there’s not just one way to be a leader. There are tons of stories of introverts doing amazing things and leading the way. Celebrating your introverts’ characteristics and skills such as thoughtful decision making and good listening, in your troop and always remember that this helps them see the impact they can also create in their troop, community and in their world at large.