5 Tips for Upcoming Student Leaders

April 28 2011, 10:38am

First off, we want to congratulate every new student leader who currently is transitioning into an officer position for the upcoming school year; your accomplishment is well deserved. It’s now time to roll up your sleeves, buckle up, and enjoy the ride and experience you’re about to have. For many of you, this may be your first taste of leadership and responsibility over your peers. Here is some advice for new student leaders entering their new role. Listen A great leader knows how to listen to everyone involved within his/her organization. However, this doesn’t imply folding to every demand and wish, but being open to what your members have to say and suggest to you. You never know when or where a bright idea will emerge and whom it will come from. Listening to your members will help them feel appreciated that their input is being taken seriously by the very leader they elected.

Get Organized Being organized is one of the most fundamental aspects for any leader. Whether you’re leading a meeting, event or understanding how your organization stands financially, you need to have all your information organized in a central location. For example, labeling and categorizing folders in a virtual file system can help you quickly find key items and resources, while allowing this information to be accessible to anyone in your group. Once you start getting organized it will become very easy to share documents and transition future leaders when the time comes.

Admit when you were wrong Remember this: You aren’t perfect and you WILL make mistakes as a leader. Instead of passing blame on others when something goes wrong, step up and admit you were in the wrong and move on. Think about the admiration you’ll gain from your peers, while still instilling everyone’s trust and respect in you. Making mistakes as a leader is part of the experience, and learning from them will help prepare you for a leadership role in your career. Know how you stand financially Your organization’s finances are quite possibly the most important aspect to your organization. That being said, it is important to build a trusting relationship with the Treasurer of your organization. However, if you’re the Treasurer, then you need to be able to communicate how your organization stands financially throughout each semester. Your organization finances reveal a wealth of information that should be available to anyone that asks. Organization financial transparency clears up questions such as: where is my money going, what are we doing with my money and how much do I owe?

Take a break Having a leadership position can sometimes overwhelm you, especially with a senior leadership role. This is why it’s important to take a break and enjoy your time in college. I recommend going out with your organization members, heading to the gym or even taking a break from campus and going home for the weekend. Whatever you do, remember to relax and clear your head for a bit; you may end up developing organization-changing ideas you wouldn’t have thought of otherwise.

Being a student leader can have its ups and downs, but the end result is always something every student should be proud of when they leave college. What are some things you have learned or are hoping to learn as a student leader?