Boosting Youth Communication: Essential Soft Skills Every Teen Needs for Success

Have you ever wondered why we spend so much time teaching kids math and science, but not how to introduce ourselves, hold a conversation, or handle rejection? On this episode of Speaking with Confidence, we dive deep into the critical life skills that every young person needs but most are never formally taught. I’m Tim Newman, your host and a communication coach who believes that real success comes from mastering soft skills like communication, storytelling, public speaking, and the confidence to show up authentically. Today, I’m joined by Rob Heller, founder of the BOOST Youth Alliance. Rob’s mission is to equip young people with the essential life skills that set them up for success in every area of life. He started BOOST when he couldn’t find a program that taught his son the lessons he knew were crucial so he built his own. Rob brings decades of entrepreneurial experience and a deep commitment to mentoring youth, making him the perfect guest to discuss why communication and resilience matter now more than ever. In our conversation, we tackled the mistakes we make as parents when it comes to technology and the impact that screens and smartphones have on developing communication skills. Rob and I reminisced about how the world has changed with phones glued to our hands, it’s easier to lose out on face-to-face interactions and the benefits they bring. Rob shared how self-awareness is growing among today’s parents, but also that it’s a constant struggle to set boundaries around tech use. We explored the difference between protecting young people and preparing them for the real world. Rob described how BOOST addresses not just people skills and character, but also building a healthy mindset giving kids practical tools to deal with setbacks, acknowledge their mistakes, and build true confidence. We also discussed why skills like accountability, resilience, and the ability to hold a simple conversation are the missing pieces in most academic programs. During the episode, we covered: The real reason communication skills are missing from most high school curriculums Rob’s journey building BOOST for his own family and now for countless others The impact of screens and technology on developing essential life skills How to set boundaries as parents (and model the right behavior ourselves) Why accountability and apologizing quickly matter so much for building trust and confidence The art of starting a conversation even for introverts Why employers care so much more about soft skills than technical ones Practical tips for greeting people, making eye contact, and remembering names The science behind why connecting with others feels so good (hint: it’s the chemicals in your brain) Tips for parents and educators to help young people practice these skills from an early age How BOOST’s 26 core skills help kids prepare for life, not just for school If you’ve ever wished your child or even yourself could confidently connect, communicate, and handle life’s curveballs with resilience, this episode is packed with insights and actionable advice. Rob’s work through BOOST is helping a generation get back to the basics and we agree, these are the missing courses we all need. To learn more about BOOST or connect with Rob, check out boostprogram.com, and don’t forget to grab his book, The Missing Course for Today’s Youth. And as always, if you want to overcome your own public speaking challenges, visit speakingwithconfidencepodcast.com for free resources and courses. Let’s keep building confidence one conversation at a time! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices