We would like to provide a quick disclaimer that this playbook is from sheer anecdotal experiences and does not guarantee success in a competitive event or anything else we cover in this playbook. The links and contacts we provide may give more comprehensive advice. We do hope our guidance is helpful to you, and we hope you enjoy the information!

Overview

FBLA dives into all aspects of leadership, community service, and education through its chapter events. These events are at the core of displaying what your chapter does throughout the year. Currently, there are four chapter events offered, and range from topics in finance to community service. These events are a great way to hone your presentation skills, work with a team, and truly contribute to your chapter. As you begin your journey to prepare for a chapter event, think about your chapter as a whole, and remember to plan ahead!

How to get Started

All chapter events allow up to 3 competitors. If you choose to work with a team, it’s very important you make the best choice! Here’s how you can do just that:

  1. Balance Abilities:

    Make sure that the skills of your team members complement each other, covering all aspects of the competition requirements. By having a team with various strengths it will be easier to split the work, and effectively convey the objective of your presentation.

  2. Commitment:

    Choose members who are reliable, punctual, and can consistently contribute. Chapter events require a lot of time commitment and without a fair share of work being done from each team member, it can be really hard to prepare for a strong presentation.

  3. Adaptability:

    Partner up with individuals who can think on their feet and adapt to new challenges or changes during the competition. They should not only be able to work through a problem during preparation for the event, but during the presentation as well. Sometimes you may freeze up, forget a line, or have a technical issue, and it’s important to have a team that remains calm and problem solves!

Now that you know how to pick your teammates, how do you ensure that everything will continue to stay on track within your team to achieve success?

  1. Define Objectives: Once you have your team that has various strengths it’s important to identify what task each person will be completing. There are many components to chapter events, and so it’s vital that work is equally distributed, and everyone knows what is expected of them.
  2. Track Milestones: Set up checkpoints and meetings to allow for the completion of tasks and so that the team is meeting deadlines. This includes frequent check-ins so that if the team is falling behind, there can be new goals set to make sure that no submissions are late.
  3. Be Open: When in a team, you should be open to all ideas and constructive criticism. To maintain an healthy working relationship, and balance between the team, be prepared to adjust plans if something isn’t working, and be respectful!

Judging Criteria

All chapter events have a unique set of judging criteria to ensure fairness and success for all competitive teams. It is crucial for you and your teammates to represent your chapter alignment with what the FBLA judges are looking for. The following are a few judging tips for chapter events that can help you present and give it your best!