Ideas, Insights, and Inspirations - What is the Bring-A-Friend Challenge?

By Brady Kilgore

Sweetwater High School

What is the Bring-A-Friend Challenge?

The Texas DECA Bring-A-Friend Challenge is an easy way to introduce new members to DECA and expand your chapter’s reach. The concept is simple: each of your current members invites a friend to a meeting, doubling your chapter’s reach.

what to consider when you plan

When creating a plan, answer the 5 Ws: Who, When, Where, What, Why, and How.

For example:
Who: Chapter Officers, Members, and friends
When: Thursday at 3:45 after school
Where: The Library
What: Bring-A-Friend Meeting
Why: To promote DECA to non-members
How: Chapter officers will help provide snacks, distribute them, and ensure the meeting goes smoothly.

How to complete the Bring-A-Friend Challenge

1. Promote your event: Create flyers to promote your event.

2. Host the meeting: Each of your members brings a friend (or two, or three!)

3. Post: Share your meeting on social media and tag @texasdeca

4. Submit: Submit a photo of your promotional materials, a photo of the event, and a description! You will be recognized at the Texas Career Development Conference in March with a ribbon for your name badge!

Tips for a successful meeting

Since most of the attendees for your meeting will be new potential members, you could do a presentation over DECA, the leadership styles quiz, or play Texas DECA Bingo. Another great incentive is snacks! Here are some easy snack ideas:

• Cookies

• Chips

• Ice Cream

• Rice Krispies

• Brownies

• Fruit Snacks

• Cupcakes

As you plan snacks, be cautious of those with allergies, like nuts or lactose intolerance. Make sure you have options for everybody!

Promoting your event doesn’t have to be hard!

Here are 3 Canva templates to promote your event: (click on the image to open an editable Canva file)

Ideas, Insights, and Inspirations - Ways to Get Your Chapter Engaged

By Kathryn Lock

Round Rock High School

Whether you’re leading a chapter of 10 or 500, engagement is crucial to a successful DECA chapter. I’ve broken down engagement into 3 categories: competition, community service, career preparation. 

COMPETITION

EVENT SELECTION

• Keep prospective members interested in joining DECA by hosting ‘speed dating’ for various events. Have stations where veteran members give a 1-2 minute pitch of the event. By the end of the meeting, members will have an accurate understanding of several events.

TEST PREP

• Host a live Kahoot tournament using cluster exam questions. Bring snacks and increase the stakes by offering DECA swag to the winner!

COMMUNITY SERVICE

COLLAB WITH OTHER SCHOOLS

• Members can connect with students from other schools and also reconnect with people they’ve met at previous conferences/events

• If you are a small chapter this is a great way to pull off a bigger service event

• Offering the opportunity to connect with students outside of competition allows members to see DECA as more than just a competition club

• Bonus: you can work towards completing your Texas Two-Step campaign

CAREER PREPARATION

GUEST SPEAKERS

• Ask community leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals from diverse background to talk on a topic of your choice

• Topics can include different paths to careers, roles within a start-up, or how to get experience while still in high school

• Having guest speakers highlights the connections that DECA can bring

Ideas, Insights, and Inspirations - Understanding Different Leadership Styles within a Team

By VEDA GANESAN | DISTRICT 12 PRESIDENT | ANALYZER LEADERSHIP STYLE

Marcus High School

Be the one this school year and learn what type of emerging leader you are! There is no one DECA definition of an emerging leader, since you are the one crafting your own story. Each leader is the voice of many, so it's very crucial to fully understand yourself before you attempt to understand your fellow peers. 

The DECA Leadership Styles assessment will help you identify your sweet spots and blind spots as a DECA leader. Having an awareness of your DECA Leadership Style will enable you to communicate better, assess others’ needs, and build productive relationships within your leadership team. A leader’s ability to identify these differences and quickly adapt to address individual needs can be the difference between leadership success and failure. Learn more about what type of emerging leader you are below!

Nature + Nurture + Choices

One-third of your leadership is based on nature: how you were uniquely wired and what types of genetics you received at birth. Another third of your leadership is based on nurture: the type of environments you have faced and the training you have received. It is a mixture of how you were raised and influenced by family, friends, heroes and others in your life. The final element of your leadership style is based on your choices: the lessons you have learned from the outcomes of your life decisions. 

The DECA Leadership Styles Quiz below provides insight into your nature, or how you are naturally programmed to lead. It provides a glimpse into your natural tendencies and how you were born to act and react to life situations. Your natural style often emerges when you are the most stressed, tired or operating in new or unfamiliar environments. As a leader, there is often the chance you will face one of these situations with your team, so understanding each others’ leadership styles is necessary to navigate uncharted terrain. As you gain confidence and comfortability in leadership, the nurture and choice aspects of your leadership style will emerge. This cultivation of nature, nurture and choice reveals the emerging leader within you. 

The Quiz

Take the interactive quiz here and learn a little bit more about your leadership style below.

Why understand the leadership styles in your team?

Here's why understanding leadership styles is important:

• Enhanced collaboration: Knowing different leadership styles allows leaders to work together more effectively, leveraging each other's strengths and compensating for weaknesses. Delegation and collaboration become much easier. 

• Improved communication: Leaders who understand their team’s leadership styles can tailor their communication approach, fostering clearer and more empathetic interactions. This results in better alignment and fewer misunderstandings.

• Adaptability: Leaders who are aware of various leadership styles can more easily adapt their approach based on the situation or the team they're working with. This flexibility is crucial when leading diverse groups.

• Personal growth: By recognizing different leadership styles, leaders can identify areas for their own personal development and can broaden their leadership repertoire. 

• Conflict resolution: Understanding different leadership approaches helps in resolving conflicts more efficiently among leaders. It allows teams to find compromises that respect diverse leadership styles and perspectives.

• Mentoring and development: Leaders who understand different styles are better equipped to mentor and develop the next generation of emerging leaders, helping to cultivate a strong leadership legacy within the organization.

• Decision-making: Understanding various leadership styles enables more informed and inclusive decision-making at the top level. It allows leaders to consider different perspectives and approaches when solving problems or setting organizational direction.

• Morale: Understanding the team’s leadership styles promotes a more inclusive environment, respecting and admiring diversity. 

By recognizing and appreciating the different leadership styles within your leadership team, your team can work together more harmoniously, capitalize on each other's strengths, and create a more cohesive leadership structure for your DECA chapter or association.

Ideas, Insights, and Inspirations - Preparing to Be The One | A Chapter Officer's Outlook

By JP JEWELL | Texas deca vice president

Glenda Dawson High School

Dawson DECA’s summer is spent preparing for an amazing year ahead. From in person officer meetings to our annual bootcamp we’re constantly working to be ready to implement an engaging year for all of our members. Read below to find out the steps we take to become the one!

1. CLEARLY DEFINING OUR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES - At the end of each school year, a group of officers is selected to operate the Dawson DECA chapter. Each officer receives a title they will carry throughout the next school year that entails different responsibilities. In order to ensure that all officers understand their role, each officer is given a description of their duties and a list of key deliverables to complete throughout the year in our Dawson DECA Officer Handbook. It is then up to that officer not only to complete those duties and fulfill their deliverables but also to go above and beyond towards improving the chapter.

2. ESTABLISHING CLEAR COMMUNICATION - With over 30 officers at Dawson DECA, it can be difficult for us to quickly share important information unless we have a clear line of communication. At the start of the summer, our officer team sets up a large message group with specified sub-channels on platforms such as Slack or Discord to use throughout the year. Additionally, our smaller groups set up text group chats such as our Executive team and VPs, or our VPs and their groups of directors.

3. ENSURING THAT EVERY OFFICER HAS AN ADEQUATE UNDERSTANDING OF DECA AND CHAPTER OPERATIONS - As a chapter officer, you become an essential point of contact for members to ask you questions, get information, and receive help throughout the year. In order to make sure that every chapter officer can do this, our chapter holds a “DECA 101” course at our officer boot camp. This course covers all parts of DECA’s comprehensive learning program from conferences throughout the year to corporate challenges. Every officer leaves our boot camp with the knowledge to answer almost every question they could be asked by current or potential members.

4. WORKING IN SMALLER GROUPS TO SET SPECIFIC GOALS AND CREATE PLANS - As we look to work on planning for the year or brainstorming ideas to implement, we usually have a wide variety of goals we are trying to accomplish or events we are trying to execute. Instead of doing this planning as a large group all at once, we assign different groups based on roles to plan out different aspects of our chapter. During July for example, The hospitality team worked on planning out our recruitment tactics for the beginning of the year while our outreach team brainstormed different community service ideas. By working in these smaller groups throughout the summer, our officer sub-teams are able to efficiently pave the way for a successful year ahead.

5. CONSTANT COLLABORATION AND IDEA SHARING - Following our small group meetings, each officer team ends up with a document or list full of ideas and plans for the year ahead. At our annual officer boot camp event, officer teams present their ideas to the group and hold discussions to review each idea. All 20+ people in attendance participate in refining and evaluating each idea to maximize its potential impact later in the year. Throughout this process each officer gains an understanding of what the chapter has lined up for the year and has the ability to impact the chapter at a large scale.

Overall, the summer and beginning of the school year is when our chapter officers truly create the difference that helps our chapter to be the one throughout the school year. The brainstorming, planning, and outlining that happens during that time creates a powerful framework that is then carefully implemented throughout the year in order to keep a large chapter moving that works to enable every member to BE THE ONE!

Check below to see what our boot camp schedule looked liked and a copy of our officer handbook.

Ideas, Insights, and Inspirations - Ideas for Hosting a Chapter Meeting

By Rudy Sathish

Heritage High School

Howdy Texas DECA! As school is starting for many of us, chapter meetings and recruitment activities will soon begin, and updated information will be provided for DECA members. To ensure everyone is able to ‘Be the One’, here are some meeting ideas that would be beneficial to your chapter:

INTRODUCTORY MEETING

At the beginning of the year, a primary goal is recruitment to allow as many people as possible to experience and compete in DECA. Whether you have a chapter of over 300 members or a chapter with just 10 members, you need to welcome members in some way. At an introductory meeting, it is necessary to explain DECA to existing and prospective members to effectively market your chapter, ensure member retention, and boost membership for the upcoming year. Chapter officers should also save some time at the end to answer any questions members may have. 

WELCOME SOCIAL

Incorporating a welcome social could further entice joining a local chapter. In the Texas heat, allowing members to cool down with a cold treat such as popsicles or ice cream could make members connect with each other in a more inviting environment (and who doesn’t love free food!). If this isn’t allowed, just allowing members to network through icebreakers could be beneficial as new members could make new friends in DECA and form a bond early on in the year.

COMPETITION SELECTION 

Officers and other experienced DECA members can assist new members in helping choose a competition for the year. Since members are only allowed to compete in one competition a year, it is of the utmost importance that they choose something aligned with their interests that they will want to stick to for the academic year.  Chapter officers should emphasize that an event should not be chosen simply on how difficult the event is (no DECA event is easy!), but rather how much the student will enjoy competing in it and the success they could find in it. Speaking from personal experience, an event that you thoroughly enjoy doing will reap more rewards than something uninteresting that you do not enjoy. If your chapter has DECA+, encourage members to view sample events there to see something that catches their eye.

MOCK COMPETITIONS

After members choose their events, competition season is in full swing! Members are busy completing market research, coming up with business ideas, practicing performance indicators, studying for tests, and so much more. To allow members to become more comfortable with competing and help relieve nerves before the real day - whether it's District CDC, State CDC, or ICDC-  mock competitions can be offered to all members to give them experience prior to actual competition day. Whether it's allowing students to take a practice test in a timed environment, preparing a role-play to present to other members/officers, or allowing members to present their project, mock competitions are very helpful and will give members the opportunity to improve prior to CDCs--leading to further success.

END OF YEAR BANQUET

You made it; It’s the end of the year! After a long, tedious season of competition, you have made it to the end and members and advisors deserve recognition, appreciation, and celebration. Having an end-of-year banquet, while not informative like the other meetings, Serves as a way to highlight your chapter and member accomplishments from the year, allows your chapter to be together for one last time after ICDC,  and can provide an opportunity to formally announce the following school year's officer team. A banquet can be an extremely fun celebration showing the incredible things your chapter has accomplished throughout the year and having people show their appreciation for DECA. What a great way to end the year! 

Texas DECA members, I hope you have an amazing year in DECA in competition, service, and all of your other endeavors! I hope these meeting ideas were useful and that you all have a successful year and bring home some glass! Good luck to all this year!

Ideas, Insights, and Inspirations - How to Select a Competitive Event

By Mariyam Khazi

Round Rock High School

From DECA’s 51 events, it can be difficult to select an event, especially for new members or previous members that want to try something new. Follow this map to figure out what event is best suited for you!

To see all of DECA’s 51 competitive events, visit deca.org/compete.

This breakdown has helped many decide which event they may be interested in! However, selecting a DECA event has much more to it.

1. Finding the proper career cluster:

• It’s important to decide which career cluster you are best suited to compete in. This depends on your interests, skill sets, and level of comfort in regards to speaking on each topic.

2. Creating an efficient schedule:

• Prepared events such as OR or PM events require much more planning and time set aside for DECA prior to each level competition. It’s crucial to factor in how much time you are able to put aside for DECA in your regular schedules. It can be difficult to juggle school, other extracurricular activities, and DECA, so deciding what your priorities are is definitely the first step.

3. Understanding your character:

• Once you realize how you learn, how you work most efficiently, etc, these all factor in to provide an amazing boost to your selected DECA event. Detail-oriented people generally gravitate towards the prepared events, as it’s well-suited for those who do prefer to have an extended preparation time. However, for those who work best when placed under stress, roleplay events may be best as they may flourish under the time constraint for preparation.

Ideas, Insights, and Inspirations - How to Host a Successful DECA Recruitment Meeting

By Anvi Saxena

Liberty High School

When you choose to do something in your free time, what is the #1 reason you decide to do it? Passion, incentive, and joy are the top three reasons people execute any activity. For example, right now, you decided to read this article because you are PASSIONATE about growing your DECA chapter, you want to GAIN knowledge by reading a fresh perspective (incentive), and a good chapter turnout will make events more FUN (joy). Now, when planning your next recruitment meeting, you must consider incorporating those three main things into the meeting so attendees feel compelled to join!

1.Set the Stage with a Theme

Who doesn't love a good theme? Choose a fun and exciting theme for the year that sets the tone for the year. It could be something like "DECA Olympics," "Hollywood Red Carpet," or "DECA Superhero." A theme adds an element of excitement and makes every event more memorable. Specifically for your recruitment meeting, it brings a fresh perspective to attendees and intrigues them as it is something out of the ordinary. Your games, slideshows, and presentations should all follow that theme to keep consistency and create a fun environment for all! (Also, a theme makes the planning process so much more fun!)

2. Make an Engaging AND Effective Meeting Itinerary

Keep the energy high with a variety of activities that show and tell what DECA is all about. Here are some ideas:

- Icebreaker Games: Start with fun icebreaker games to help everyone get to know each other. DECA is all about networking, and this can be their first taste of getting to know everyone!

- Informational Slideshow: Make this like an “elevator pitch” for DECA where you go over the most important and exciting parts of DECA! (Make sure to include pictures and graphics and always allow time for questions)

- Mini Competitions: Set up stations with mini versions of DECA competitions, such as small role-plays or even a fun Kahoot about the information you told them! (Keep prizes so that everyone is motivated to play)

- Guest Speakers: Invite successful DECA alumni, current members, or local business/sponsors to share their experiences and inspire new members. Share stories of past successes and highlight the benefits of joining DECA. Use a mix of personal testimonials, videos, and photos from previous events. Showing DECA's real impact on members' lives will motivate newcomers to join.

-Provide Snacks and Swag: Nothing draws a crowd like free food and goodies (joy & incentive). Provide snacks and refreshments to keep everyone fueled and happy. You can also create DECA-themed swag bags with pens, notebooks, and buttons. You can always use items earned from previous year or check out the Texas DECA Store!

There is a lot of multimedia that DECA Inc. posts, such as recruitment videos, graphics, etc., that you can utilize throughout your meeting. Remember, you also want to be effective with your planning!

3.Market, Market, Market!

You need to get the word out and use the skills you have learned in DECA! Use social media, school announcements, posters, and word of mouth to inform everyone about your upcoming recruitment meeting. Create eye-catching graphics and catchy slogans to grab attention and mention key leverage points such as snacks, swag, and fun activities. Don't forget to include all the essential details: date, time, location, and theme.

Additionally, collaborate with other organizations that attract people at your school to market DECA & your next meeting there. Attend your school’s club fairs and community events and utilize every opportunity available to you.

4.Have a Clear Call to Action in Meetings & Marketing 

Make it easy for interested students to join your chapter. Have sign-up sheets, QR codes for online registration forms, and information packets ready. Clearly explain the next steps and how they can get involved right away. (Remember, people have short attention spans, so make it easy to understand)

5.Follow Up

After the meeting, follow up with all attendees. Send a thank-you email, include information about the next meeting, and remind them of any upcoming events. This shows that you value their interest and keep the momentum going. This also makes them feel comfortable asking you questions!

Bonus Tips

• Delegate Tasks: Involve your chapter officers and members in meeting planning and executing. This not only lightens your load but also builds teamwork and leadership skills.

• Stay Positive and Enthusiastic: Your energy and enthusiasm are contagious. Keep the atmosphere positive and welcoming, and make sure everyone feels included.

By following these steps and keeping passion, incentive, and joy at the forefront, you'll host a recruitment meeting that's fun and engaging and effective in attracting new members. Good luck, and happy recruiting!

Ideas, Insights, and Inspirations - Communicating the Benefits of Joining DECA

By Gargi Chaudhari

Heritage High School

Are you a high school student looking to expand your horizons beyond academics? If so, DECA might be the organization for you! With a strong history of developing the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs, this organization provides many benefits that will enhance your education and give you a good base for further development. This year's DECA theme is "Be the One," which encourages stepping up, standing out, and making a difference.

What is DECA?

DECA stands for Distributive Education Clubs of America, an increasingly recognized international association that empowers students to become career professionals in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. Formed in high schools and colleges, DECA provides students with skills such as being academically prepared, community-oriented, professionally responsible, and experienced leaders.

Professional Development Opportunities

Arguably, one of the most obvious reasons for joining DECA would be the professional development opportunities available. Through DECA competitions, workshops, and conferences, students formulate improved public speaking, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Such experiences not only strengthen academic knowledge but also engage relevant life skills, which are indispensable in any career path.. By embracing the "Be the One" theme, you are called upon to take the lead— confidently and fearlessly—and be the one who inspires and drives change.

Networking and Community Engagement

DECA offers students a network for connecting with fellow students, educators, and industry professionals. Beginning from local chapters and progressing to regional meetings and international conferences, DECA members fabricate quality connections to position them for internship and scholarship opportunities. Through engagement with like-minded peers and mentors, an established support network is created through which students can grow and flourish. When you choose to "Be the One," you become involved and active in your community, leaving behind a legacy of all the good things done and meaningful relationships built.

Scholarships and Recognition

Beyond the skill development and networking, DECA provides enormous opportunities for recognition and scholarships. Successful DECA competitors at the local, state, and international levels reap rewards by being able to list these accomplishments on their résumés and in college applications. The organization also works with businesses and universities to offer scholarships that are not only specific to academic excellence but also exhibit great leadership and entrepreneurial potential. As you "Be the One" in your accomplishments, you mark a standard others will follow and lead by example.

Conclusion

Joining DECA is not just about competitions or conferences; it’s about the transformational journey one goes through, preparing a person for challenges and opportunities yet to come. If you seek a career in business, marketing, finance, or entrepreneurship, DECA will provide you with the necessary skills, experiences, and connections in order to succeed in your chosen field.

In summary, DECA offers high school students a very unique opportunity for professional development, extreme networking, and scholarships that will mold their futures. In joining DECA, you do not join just a club but a network across the world of leaders and innovators who are ready to make a difference.

Be the one to take a step ahead, be the difference, and be a leader. Ready to take that next step in your personal and professional growth? Join DECA today and engage in numerous activities that will definitely lead you toward success.

Ideas, Insights, and Inspirations - Choosing the Right Teammates

By Ananya gogula

Uplift North Hills Prep

Choosing teammates for your DECA competition is arguably one of the hardest tasks at hand. The natural tendency is to obviously pick your friends, but in the end, is this really the right choice? Are they really the ideal members for your team? Learning what the team needs, and the importance of a well-rounded team with a common goal can help you make the right decision.

Importance of diverse strengths: 

To understand, let’s take an example scenario. Let’s say you decide to pair up with some friends; you all are amazing presenters and are like-minded with similar skill sets. While the presentation skills can always come in handy, other tasks for projects can become more overwhelming and less streamlined due to the lack of different skills and perspectives. Delegating and dividing tasks also becomes easier when team members have different skill sets. Choosing people with complementary skills to you can work out really nicely in the end; example - you are an extrovert and have a lot of confidence in presenting while your teammate can make a killer slideshow – these skills go hand in hand. Some other pros of having a team with diverse strengths:

• Enhanced problem-solving and creativity: more perspectives/opinions, more innovative ideas

• Improved decision making: more informed decisions, different viewpoints

• Risk mitigation: makes sure things are not overlooked

• More collaboration: Shared goals and vision, more communication

Steps to choosing the right teammates: 

1. ASSESS THE PROJECT AND IDENTIFY KEY STRENGTHS NEEDED:
Understanding the event/project topic and what the desired outcome is can be the first step to choosing teammates. What are the deliverables? What do you need to complete the project; are there specific resources available, deadlines, or specific time commitments needed from team members? Is there a certain way the project tasks should be broken down?

2. ASSESS YOURSELF:
What strengths do you have? What weaknesses do you have? Are there certain skill sets/strengths that can complement yours? Are you able to delegate tasks to make the project successful? This is an important step in the team selection process.

3. DIVERSE EXPERTISE AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
Make sure the team delegates responsibilities equally and communicates effectively. Everyone should hold each other accountable. Remember communication is key and it can actually be better to over communicate at times!

In the end, choosing people with diverse strengths and common goals can really help make a well-rounded team. Remember to learn from each other, communicate well, and to have fun!