What leadership activities does your team actually provide?
Leadership titles don't always tell us what students actually get to do. Does the vice president lead projects or simply help carry them out? Does the treasurer develop a budget or just track expenses? Looking beyond job descriptions to the activities students actually perform could reveal opportunities to share responsibility, develop new skills, and give more students meaningful leadership experience.
Don't just plan your titles. Plan your leadership activities.
What if students approached high school activities by asking not just which organizations to join or leadership positions to pursue, but what they want to learn how to do? A look at how students can build meaningful leadership experiences by taking on new responsibilities over time.
What should student leaders actually get to do?
What should student leaders actually get to do? Instead of making another list of leadership traits, I've been looking at the activities that give students real responsibility and opportunities to develop their leadership skills through practice.
A leadership title isn’t a leadership experience
Two students can hold the same leadership title and have very different experiences. Maybe we should pay less attention to the title and more attention to what students actually get to do.
When doing your part isn’t enough
One of the frustrating things about group projects is that doing your part isn’t always enough.
Looking beyond the leadership title
What started as a question about how student leaders are supported led me to another one: What are students actually getting the opportunity to do once they become leaders? Our research changed how I think about the relationship between support, responsibility, and learning to lead.
What the written responses taught me about supporting student leaders
The written responses from student leaders and advisors helped me understand why clear roles and useful organizational tools don’t always lead to consistent follow-through. They also changed how I think about the practical support students need while learning to lead other people.
What I’m learning from student leadership advisors
Thirty-seven advisors and coaches shared what they see helping student leaders succeed, and where follow-through, workload, and preparation can still become difficult.
What I’m learning from student leaders
Early results from about 270 student leaders show clear role expectations, common challenges, and very different experiences with training and support.
What students can learn from local leaders
A reflection on what students can learn about leadership, decision-making, and civic engagement by observing local leaders and public service.