Leadership
by Jason
IN WHICH JASON SHARES SOME OF HIS EXPERIENCES AS PRESIDENT OF THE STUDENT’S COUNCIL AND DRAWS UP A SIMPLE STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO AID THE UP AND COMING LEADER.
Everyone has to be a leader at some point in their lives, from the simplest of things like deciding for a group where to have lunch, to possibly leading a company as one of the higher management. Some find it uncomfortable to be put in a position of leadership, but gradually as they experience more they will develop their own style and manner of leading.
Leadership can never be taught; the skills can be educated and the methods made known, but ultimately it can only be experienced and learnt. This guide merely aims to provide the emerging leader in everyone with a few useful tips that may help to make the leadership journey a smoother one.
A Simple Step-by-step Guide to Aid the Up and Coming Leader
Prioritise
Before taking on this position as a leader, think first- is this something that I can commit to and that I am willing to sustain my time and effort in? Do not disregard this question as it will affect the entire process and the eventual product and outcome. Think carefully about your other commitments, weigh them against each other and, based on the amount of time that you have left everyday, decide if you will be able honour this new position if you decide to take it up. The Kiasu in most people likes to make him take on as many things as he possibly can, but you must realize, committing to too many things might result in you doing none of them well. But once you have carefully considered and made your decision, stick to it with no regrets and move on from there.
Forming a Team
If you truly want to achieve something great, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to do it yourself. You will definitely need a team of dedicated leaders, to aid you and help you along the way. Pick those who have the expertise that you need, and don’t be afraid to give newcomers a chance, they often have a different perspective which is very valuable. When your team is formed, let it be known that everyone is equal here and that everyone’s opinion is equally valuable. At no point should any one individual become bigger than the team as a whole.
Dream of a Vision
In whatever you do, I’m certain that you want the best possible outcome and you don’t want it to be just something else that you have to do. You want it to be fresh, different and interesting! Now, start to dream of what you could actually do with the task at hand.
If you’re doing this in a group, the discussion is usually slow to start and no one is willing to share the ideas that they actually have in their heads because they don’t want to appear daft. So, why not give everyone a period, say half an hour, of no-holds-barred random throwing out of the wackiest and most fun ideas that they can think of. And for good measure, start the discussion yourself by letting go what you’ve always thought of saying but never did because everyone was listening. This might appear trivial but what it does achieve is that everyone’s excitement levels will build and through the laughter more and more ideas will be willingly contributed. At the end of the 30 minutes, everyone will be very hyped-up and enthusiastic about the entire project. Now, go back and sieve through the countless ideas that were said. Inevitably, one or two of them will actually be doable and will be tremendously fun, different and exciting.
Decide as a group of leaders what you want to achieve from the list you have compiled, and then when you have decided, take that and let it be the common vision that you as a group will share.
Action Plan, Deadlines
Now that you have an idea of what you want to do, here comes the hard work, drafting an action plan and sticking to the deadlines. A lot of this comes with determination and perseverance, but as a leader your role in this aspect is both to maintain a big picture and make sure that everything is progressing smoothly towards the goal on time, and to get down to the dirty work yourself and make sure that you are setting a good example to all those working alongside you. However, the latter should never overshadow the former, as being a leader, you will have to lead, not just follow.
Delegate and Empower
A good leader knows when to let others take over and when to take a step back. The temptation for a leader is to get in everyone’s way and making sure that everything is happening 100% to your liking, but that may not be the best thing for your team. It is important that you are willing to trust them and give them sufficient freedom to proceed as they wish, and to back them up when difficult decisions have to be made. When everyone can see the fruit of their labour in the final product, that is where their satisfaction comes from.
Enjoy the Final Product
When all the work has been done and everything is ready, sit back, relax and enjoy what you and your team have put together.
*Other Important Pointers-In a group of leaders, never undermine one another. If there is any decision that others have made that you feel strongly against, pull them out separately and talk to them about it. Never let those who are following your leadership see that the leaders are not sure of what they want. Always present a united front so that your leadership will be assured.
-Even when everyone is working, it is always important to take care of their welfare and provide them with added motivation. Timely surprises of goodwill will cause them to realize that you care for them and not just the work that has to be accomplished. This will further build their trust in your leadership.
