You made it!
Those are great words to hear aren't they?
When you finish a big project.
When you finish a long race.
When you finish a series of posts on student leadership.
When you finish a great student leadership year.
Here's a secret that ties this whole thing together. When you finish a GREAT student leadership year, you'll quickly realize that you couldn't have accomplished it ALL BY YOURSELF. You needed help. You needed other people. And what is true for you is true for those around you. They need someone, somebodys, anybodys - to come alongside them and help them reach their potential.
Each of the ideas in this series is provided as a way for you to BE THE PERSON who helps someone else have a GREAT year. When you do that, you increase your influence and impact on that person. That way, when they consider what kind of student leader you are, they'll say you're a STUD because of how much you helped them, encouraged them, served them, and made them better.
Think about it...If you are going to be a student leader, don't you want be a GREAT one?
Here's the last 7 ideas for you to put into practice...
29. Leave the position better than you found it.
As you serve in your position, you will make things easier or harder for the person who follows you in this position. If you take the time to create a new filing system to store old records, or develop a better relationship with another part of your organization, or keep track of all the phone numbers you needed throughout the year - that will be something the next person DOESN'T have to do. Look at it this way, if there's anything that is easy to do in your position at this point, it is probably because someone before you paid the price of hard work so you wouldn't have to. If you do this, next year's student leader will look back on your time with gratitude and good feelings.
30. Show respect to adults, mentors, advisors, administrators, and teachers.
You are in your position for one year. But the adults that you work with probably stay in their same position year in and year out. They've seen a lot of student leaders come and go. One of the ways that you can distinguish yourself above the others is by being respectful. This doesn't mean you have to agree with everything. But you understand that this is these people's JOBS. Whatever their motivation, they are in this position because they want to invest in the lives of students. They probably have a lot of experience. Don't be frustrated by their cynicism of your new idea. They've seen it before in one form or another. Listen to their hesitancy and show them why your version will work. If you come at it with an "us against them" mindset, you'll only make it difficult on yourself.
31. Keep your cool. Be consistent.
There will be a lot of things that you can get mad about during your student leader year. But responding in anger usually makes a situation more difficult. If you can stay calm and keep a level head in those tense moments, you'll be better equipped to RESPOND to the situation rather than REACT. When you burst out in anger, you take away any chance of getting a response out of the other people involved. If people know that you will be consistent in your emotions through a variety of circumstances (both good and bad), they will be more willing to hear what you have to say and respect your leadership. If you take them on an emotional rollercoaster ride every day, they'll always be looking for the quickest exit.
32. Leave well.
Every student leader leaves. Every student leadership year comes to an end. The question is how will you leave (and when)? When you leave well, you finish what you've started. You have done your best. You walk away with no regrets. When you leave well, people want to celebrate what you've done.
33. Be a team player. Create high team morale.
If you've read most of the 35 ideas I've listed for you, then you know that ONE is too small a number for greatness. What I mean is - you can't do anything significant by yourself. We need other people and other people need us. Your team depends on you and you must depend on your team. Allow your people to do what they need to do. Trust is the glue that holds any team together. Are you doing whatever it takes to make the members of your team better? Your team will be much more effective if they enjoy being a team. Morale is a great motivator. When success comes, point to your team. When failure happens, take it upon yourself to do better.
34. Make your people feel more important than your projects.
When you step into a student leadership position there will be certain tasks that you are required to do. If you do all of those tasks yourself, you will be doing the work of a student worker. If you get other people involved you will be moving in the direction of becoming a student leader. As a student leader, help your people feel special. They won't be as motivated by the idea of helping you get your work done. People are more important than tasks. Develop a relationship with them and show them how they are valued for more than just the work they do.
35. Raise up potential leaders. Reproduce yourself.
Do you want to create a legacy of positive leadership that will live on after you've gone? Then invest in others who have the capacity and potential to step into your position when you leave. Take the time to mentor someone. Take what you've learned from your experience and pass it on to someone else. Share your resources. Tell someone that you believe in them and can see their potential. Give them opportunities to lead under your direction and nurturing.
Now it's time to move into action. Don't just read this list of 35 ideas and nod your head. Get out there and prove to the world that you are a great student leader.
Did you miss the other parts of this list? Follow the links to read all 35.
35 Ways...Part One
35 Ways...Part Two
35 Ways...Part Three
35 Ways...Part Four
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