Paying The Price Of Leadership

As a student leader you have a simple choice to make: you can pay now and play later, or you can play now and pay later.

Either way, you’re going to have to pay. 

By paying, I mean the areas that one must invest, labor, and work at to be effective as a leader.  This could include the time you spend building your team, setting your vision, naming your goals, developing key relationships, etc.  If you wait to pay the price to develop these things, the price will be much higher than if you invest on the front end. 

By playing, I am referring to the blessings and results of having paid the price of leadership.  The truth is, the blessings you enjoy now as a leader in your position are the result of someone having paid the price before you got there.  You are a part of an ongoing leadership process.  The price that you are willing to pay this year, will directly affect how much you are able to play this year.  Plus, it will impact those who come after you.

I sat down with Jason last week.  Jason has graduated from college and moved on to a wonderful career in marketing in the performing arts industry.  As we reminisced about his days as a student leader in school, we talked about the hard work that he put into starting a coffee shop on campus.

The first year the coffee shop opened (his senior year) was difficult.  The coffee shop lost money.  There wasn't a lot of student buy-in.  Jason worked to try and promote new activities, discounts, and perks to do anything to get the coffee shop off the ground.  Some people wondered if it was worth it.  But Jason worked all year to see it grow.  Then Jason graduated and moved on.

The next year, the coffee shop became more popular and actually began to make money.  It was a hit with all of the new students and more and more returning students made use of it.  It became the place to be on campus.  The student leaders during this year were able to provide a lot more programming and received a lot of praise for having such a great coffee shop.  But while they were working hard, they were receiving the benefit, the ease of use, that Jason had provided because he paid the price the year before.

As a student leader, it's important to understand that you may not be the one who is able to play just because you took the time to pay the price.  The leadership price you pay in your chapter of the story may provide the opportunity for those who follow you to play, to stand on the shoulders of the work that you've done.

With every student leader year, there will be some things that you get to enjoy because someone else paid the leadership price.  There will also be certain things that you will pay the leadership price for that someone else who comes behind you will enjoy.

Every chapter has it's share of playing.  In fact, the opposite could be said as well.  If you follow after a student leader who spent more time playing, then you may be the one who has to do the paying (and pay a higher price).

When should you pay the leadership price? 

As often as you can, pay the price on the front end.

Where should you pay the leadership price?

• Taking the time to develop key relationships and alliances.
• Developing organizational systems or improving those that currently exist.
• Investing in your team and developing their leadership skills.
• Doing your best, even when it's difficult.
• In the area of personal discipline and follow-through.
• Accomplishing tasks and projects that will make it easier on those who follow after you.

Chuck Swindoll writes:

“A piano sits in a room, gathering dust.  It is full of the music of the masters, but in order for such strains to flow from it, fingers must strike the keys…trained fingers, representing endless hours of disciplined dedication.  You do not have to practice.  The piano neither requires it nor demands it.  If, however, you want to draw a beautiful music from the piano, that discipline is required…

You do not have to pay the price to grow and expand intellectually.  The mind neither requires it nor demands it.  If, however, you want to experience the joy of discovery and the pleasure of plowing new and fertile soil, effort is required.

Light won’t automatically shine upon you nor will truth silently seep into your head by means of rocking-chair osmosis.  It’s up to you.  It’s your move.” 

It has been said that achievers choose what losers won’t and pay the price that others don’t.

Comments

[tim]

Jeannette...Welcome to studentl.inc. I'm glad you found the site, but I'm really glad you found the site useful. I hear what you're saying with this being a "hard pill to swallow." But if we swallow the hard pill earlier in life, we won't have to swallow it later (when the pill is much bigger in terms of consequences).

Keep reading and keep commenting.

tim

[Jeannette]

Nathaniel,

I think I understand what you are saying. I've been working very hard for two years on a project. It seems like I'm the only "paying" while some of the new members are "playing". It is a hard pill to swallow. But I also like to think of it as an innoculation for future students.

I'm *so* glad I've discovered this site. I have learned so much in the past few days from reading the posts.

Thank you!
Jeannette

[nathaniel]

It's interesting to think about how the things that we work for now, may not come to fruition in our time. Often, the things that we strive for may even take our "death" to really take hold. It's a hard pill to swallow. But knowing that the work that we do will eventually take hold makes the whole thing worth it. meh, just typin to hear myself type.

nathaniel