ARE YOU A LEADER?

LEADERSHIP ASSESSMENT
Do you consider yourself a leader?   YES or NO
(If you answered YES, please continue.)

Leaders or people who consider themselves to be a leader, should be able to answer the following questions:

• Who do you lead?
• What do you lead?
• How do you lead?

Being a leader is more than just "calling" yourself a leader.  Being a leader is knowing who you lead (people), what you lead (passion), and how you lead (principles).

ARE YOU HOT?

"At 211 degrees, water is hot. At 212 degrees, it boils. And with boiling water comes steam. And steam can power a locomotive."

So, it's about the power of one degree, or that tiny bit of extra effort that can make all the difference in our lives.  The concept of boiling water is very similar to "Going the 2nd Mile"!  The idea is that just a little bit of extra effort or service can go along ways!  It's about raising your awareness and understanding that one extra bit of effort, one additional bit of action, can totally change your results.

This concept is explained in a short book by Sam Parker and Mac Anderson called "212 The Extra Degree".

I encourage you today to be that "extra degree"!

LEADERSHIP MODEL based on a Servant Heart and Sensitive Spirit

Enjoy the following Leadership Model:



Character: Do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do…

Definition:  Character is the sum of the choices you make during the course of a lifetime.

Quote:  We choose our character.  In fact, we create it every time we make choices. – John Maxwell

Successful leadership programs have a solid foundation of students with strong character.  Student leaders are faced with a multitude of decisions and choices everyday that test the quality of their character.

For example, their character is on display when they handle money, count votes, compete on a team, attend events, and how they spend their free time.  Student leaders live in a “fishbowl” and everything they say and do are on display for students, staff, administrators, and parents to see.  Thus, it is essential to have students in leadership that have good, strong character!

To ensure the integrity of student leadership on campus, student leaders must be willing to do the right thing, because it’s the right thing to do.  Student leaders face the same peer-pressures that all youth deal with, maybe even more in some cases.  However, student leaders must understand the importance of being a person of good character.

Reflection Questions:

1. Who is someone you know that consistently does the right thing because it’s the right thing to do? 
2. Discuss a few different ways to take the initiative when facing peer-pressure to do something wrong.
3. Why do you think character is an important aspect of student leadership?  Explain.
4. What do you think others say about your character?
5. What are three ways you think you could improve your character?

Scaffolding Model of Teaching: supports student initiative!

This model was presented during a staff development training at my school.  I think this model is a great visual reminder of how to structure an effective leadership program.

#1 - At the beginning of the year or during your summer training days the advisor is in charge of MODELING and EXPLAINING. 

#2 - Hopefully after a few months or by mid-year the advisor is able to delegate some responsiblity to student leaders; creating a SHARED experience.

#3 - The ulimate goal is to develop student leaders to the point where much, if not all, the responsibility falls on them and the advisor can truly serve in their role of ADVISOR!  (Second year leadership students and elected officers should be close to this stage at the beginning of their senior year.)

Roger Hart's Ladder of Young People's Participation

Full description of this ladder:  http://www.freechild.org/ladder.htm.

Initiative and Sir Isaac Newton

Initiative is a quality that separates ordinary students from extraordinary.  Most students are content with the way things are and therefore unwilling to initiate change.  However, student leaders understand and accept the fact that it requires energy to take the lead or initiative. 

Sir Isaac Newton is famous for his research on movement.  He came up with the conclusion that an object at rest will not move until a force acts upon it.  Using this example the authors of the book, “The Inspiring Leader” wrote:

“This same principle seems to apply to humans taking the initiative.  It takes a lot of energy to get things started.  Everyone knows that it is much easier to coast than to start.  In order for people to take the initiative, they need to have enough energy in terms of both time and motivation to take on something new, and they need to be willing to expend that energy.  Leaders who take the initiative believe that they are responsible for getting things started.”


Go the 2nd Mile,
Stephen Amundson
www.facebook.com/stephenamundson7

Initiative, Follow-Through, and Enthusiasm

The majority of this blog will be based on the following concept map:  

Leadership Curriculum:  http://db.tt/xZWT8Cy 


Enjoy and thanks for visiting this blog!

LEADERSHIP: TAKING THE INITIATIVE

Typically, student leaders do not take the initiative because of three reasons:

#1:  Student leaders might be involved in a program that does not support, inspire, encourage, allow, or reward initiative.  Thus, student leaders do not have the freedom to take the initiative.  Instead, they have to sit back and wait to be given instructions or directions.

#2:  Student leaders sometimes lack confidence in their abilities, skills, and or knowledge and will tend to sit back and watch others take the lead. 

#3:  Student leaders are highly driven individuals who strive to be perfect.  It is difficult sometimes for student leaders to step out and take the initiative out of fear that they may “mess it up” or “do something wrong”.

Ways to overcome these barriers that student leaders face:

#1:  Make sure that your program provides opportunities and encourages student leaders to take the initiative.  To be a leader is to also be an initiator.  A huge part of student leadership is teaching our students to think and act for themselves. 

#2:  Make sure to equip and empower everyone of your student leaders so that they feel confident in their role or position within their leadership program.  Have older students mentor, train, and work with the younger students in your program.  Take time to make sure each student is learning and understanding what is expected of them and create an environment that supports taking risk.

#3:  Make sure that student leaders know that “messing up” or “doing something wrong” is part of leadership development.  Part of our job as educators is to provide learning experiences that help develop young leaders.  I would much rather see a student take the initiative and “mess up”, than see a bunch of student leaders sit and do nothing at all.

“Taking the Initiative” Quotes:

- Success comes to the person who does today what you were thinking about doing tomorrow. – unknown

- Between the great things we cannot do and the small things we will not do, the danger is that we shall do nothing. -Adolphe Monod


Go the 2nd Mile,
Stephen Amundson
www.facebook.com/stephenamundson7