In this blog, I will explore leadership concepts that can be, at times, abstract. Therefore, I will be using three case studies to provide concrete examples of these concepts in action. These organizations include the Speech & Debate Team, Consult For America, and the Judo Club.
One of the first, and most important, actions you must take when running a student organization is building and affirming a constitution, otherwise known as a mission statement.
Diverse members make a diverse team. Diverse teams lead to better problem solving and new creative ideas. When selecting your members, it's important to try and recruit a variety of personalities and perspectives.
Your organization is defined by its members. Without great people, you cannot have a great team. Therefore, much thought and effort should be put into identifying the individuals who will be most dedicated to and most passionate about what your organizations does.
Ah! It’s the end of your college career and you’re ready to set sail for greener pastures and more wondrous adventures! But, you also want a nice send off as a remembrance for the work, effort, and investment you’ve put into the team and its members. So, what do you do? Well if you’re a ...
Being a great leader does not end on your last day in office. Your legacy is both a combination of what you’ve done for the organization in the present, and how your actions affect the organization even after you leave. To that end, leadership training is vitally important. If you have the benefit of knowing ...
The success of your organization derives largely from your best performers. These individuals will quickly become identifiable icons simply because they are active and respected. They will drive forward initiatives, and do more than is expected of them. It’s vital that you make it as easy as possible for these members to stay and continue ...
When considering whether you should work with external organizations, you should first ask yourself whether it is necessary and what goals you are trying to pursue. Involving another organization will add an additional layer of complexity. If your organization has the resources and ability to complete an initiative successfully without an outside party, you should ...
With the rising awareness of mental illness in this country, more information about trauma and mental health on college campuses is becoming available. One in four people will have a diagnosable mental illness in their life time. One in five women will be sexually assaulted during their academic career. It is nearly inevitable that at ...
Conflict is inevitable in your organization. Especially if you have strong-willed members, you’ll find that they have their own motivations and directions they want to take the team. Conflict has the potential to be positive and should be seen as an opportunity. The worst feeling your members can have towards your organization is apathy. If ...
No matter how well you run your organization, you’ll inevitably encounter either problematic members or difficult third parties. Depending on the situation and the people involved, you can employ different strategies to deal with difficult individuals. But before we delve into the strategies, there’s an important point I’d like for you to consider. Do ...
You’ve done a great job as a student leader, and it’s time to move on. However, there is one final task you must complete before you can go: assembling a new board. The selection process for boards fall into two categories: elections and appointments. Many processes are a combination of the two. Elections allow a ...
Almost all student groups will have to fundraise at one time or another during the year. Unless your activities council is particularly generous or you have a wealthy benefactor, fundraising is a necessary part of a team’s success. However, asking money of your teammates via dues or money of outside people via fundraising events is ...
If your people are the intangible soul of your organization, money is the nutrition that keeps it alive. I was a finance major, and even I’ll admit I find dealing with finances to be at times quite tedious. You may feel differently. If you do, I applaud your attention to such an important matter, just ...
The Definitive Guide to Student Leadership 