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