What is leadership and why do we do it?

Leadership is not just for your resume, although it may help

Leadership is a word that is thrown out a lot, but not many have taken the time to really consider what it means. Being a leader is not just taking a random position on an executive board. Like Donald Mcgannon says “leadership is an action, not a position”. Someone can be on an executive board of an organization and not be a very good leader. Someone can be a general member, but be an awesome leader who makes a big difference.

Leadership, in its truest form, is about doing something because you are either passionate about the goal of a project or organization, or want to better the people around you.

If you are a part of the first group of leaders. You are leading to accomplish something. A leader helps to get people where they need to go without micro-managing. Leaders know how to delegate and do who. Additionally, leaders are not managers in the sense that it is not their job to watch over the shoulder of another person.

If you are leading a group because of the people then you most likely care deeply about the people you are working with. You would do anything for them. As a leader, all you want to do is make people the best version of themselves they can be.

Many leaders lead because of both of the above reasons.

What is a student leader?

A leader who is in school. Duh...

Just kidding, a student leader is a person who first and foremost is studying so their priority should be on academics. Secondly, they are usually a young adult with a lot on their plate. Third and most importantly, they are learning about their leadership style. What works best in what situation, and how to interact with people who are their peers. Working with peers is harder than meets the eye because they are not a subordinate that you can boss around but rather someone whose ideas you should listen to and someone whose respect you will need to earn.

Who can be a student leader?

Literally, anyone.

If you are not the most outspoken person in a group, you can still be a leader. If you are better at taking direction than giving others direction, you can still be a leader. A leader is about how you carry yourself. If everyone was loud and bossy a group would not function well.

Leadership comes in all different shapes and sizes, therefore we should really appreciate the diversity. Another big part of this diversity is the fact that we all have different roles in the groups, organizations and clubs that we are in.

If leadership was one size fits all then every organization and mission statement would have to be the same as well. It is important to have a variety of different kinds of leaders; without this diversity in leadership style things would never get done!