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Leadership – Inspiring & Enabling Others

Leadership – Inspiring & Enabling Others

Ian successfully campaigned for president of his senior class, and then offered to shave his head if his school raised more than $12,000 for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Halley, moved by the isolation of the military serving in Iraq, organized a community holiday project, which sent packages to 300 troops. She was in eighth grade at the time.

Now both students are in their freshman year, the taste of leadership still fresh.

Are you a leader, not just a joiner? Do you admire people who can organize, inspire, and encourage others to act for a common cause? Think about those public servants, business executives, student leaders, and people in managerial positions who you admire. Think about national call to service by the current president. If you believe you’re meant to help others reach their goals and to steer others to service and commitment, you have the qualities of leadership.

Being involved in student organizations, Greek life, and student government is a natural jumping-off point, and the college setting is a great place to test the waters. There’s even a Student Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) that was developed to identify students’ reported “behaviors and actions” when they are at "their personal best as leaders." The five recognized LPI categories are:

Modeling the Way
Inspiring a Shared Vision
Challenging the Process
Enabling Others to Act
Encouraging the Heart

Building Your Leadership Potential

So how can you realize your potential and hone your leadership skills?

Enroll in courses – Register for classes that emphasize leadership practices and strengthen skills that will have a direct impact on your effectiveness. Courses offered by colleges may include Leadership Studies, Public Speaking and other communication courses, Ethics, and Organizational Management.
Participate in programs – Register for college-sponsored leadership development programs, workshops, and seminars
Tutor – Become a peer tutor. Your school may offer stipends.
Mentor – Become a peer mentor to other students in a lower grade and help them in their transition, to international or English as a Second Language students, or those at risk for a variety of reasons. Check with your school about peer mentoring programs.
Freshman Orientation – Be an orientation leader or advisor when the next crew of freshman come to campus.
Residence Assistant – Become an RA and hone your mentoring and communication skills.