Leadership

[soulbreaker]

For the first time in my life, i'm going to have to show and develop leadership skills by becoming president of a club at my university.

I'm not scared. It's actually the opposite...I'm very excited, and expect to learn from my experiences and mistakes.

I'm not looking to be a hardass (i'm not a very power hungry person), but I want to be taken seriously, which I've had trouble with throughout my life.

I'm a nice easy going person, which i think could set me up to be a doormat to stepped on, and that's what i don't want to happen. i've had that happen enough in my life at this point, and have become a little more confrontational, but that could be improved upon a little more as well.

I feel for some people this just comes naturally, but i would really like to develop this skill tremendously, and would appreciate any advice or thoughts on how i should carry this out or begin the learning process.

I won't start this position for atleast four months, so i've got plenty of time to prepare myself.

thanks again!

[rose A]

Well congratulations. Well why did they choose you? You must have presented an overall image of the kind of president the club needed. Did you project to them an idea of what direction you wanted the club to go in? If yes, then they saw that you had a vision that was similar to them.

Did you appear to be a person who held to your convictions and beliefs? If you hold to this trait you should overcome the image that you can be walked over and can sometimes be a door mat. Be firm but yet still have charisma.

You must have showed them that you are competent for the position and courageous to handle any obstacles that would come up.

I would assume that they thought that you were creative enough to keep the club interesting. Have enough charm as to attract new members to the club.

So to conclude, they must have seen these traits in you to be their leader for the club. Don't second guess your good leadership skills that you are projecting in yourself and show them that you can be the leader that is best for the club while still making the club enjoyable and fun.

Congratulations and good luck.

[BlackWigger]

Id like to know something about this too. I always wanted to have leadership skills, but im like the complete opposite of a leader. I am so submissive, people walk over me np and I don't do anything about it. What's the point of such a life ?

[inverse Paranoid]

Just because you're a laid back person doesn't mean you're not fit to lead. I'm not very hands on at all and in some ways this passivity can be seen as a weakness. The important thing is to work with your perceived weaknesses and understand how they can complement your strengths.

As a leader I don't try to run the show. I just give things direction and spend most of my time listening. The key is that when something important is being discussed and I feel people are a little off course, I always chime in to make sure we remember why we're meeting.

Being a leader doesn't mean you have to lead everything. It just means you have to identify the jugular issues and make sure everyone's on the same page about them. If people can't seem to get on the same page, reach a compromise that feels good to you. If no such compromise can be made, dictate the terms you feel are best. Remember, sometimes indecision is worse than the wrong decision.

You'll find people work best when they feel they've had ample input and are following a decision they have confidence in. So make sure you let everyone be heard and support all the decisions that are made; even if you're unsure of their chances for success.

When in doubt: care. People are much more likely to trust you as a leader if they know you care about them and their cause. So focus on what everyone is looking for and remind people that you're after achieving the end result not promoting your way of getting there. This will grant you the benefit of the doubt when a decisions are made and if things go awry you won't be accused of having some hidden agenda.

[Inthon]

Originally Posted by inverse Paranoid

When in doubt: care.

^^^^^^^^^^

Nailed it.

[mysticmadness]

just one advice soulbreaker. Apart of leadership you need to be good at politics also. Politics is not a bad word but a great way to keep things in your hand, run things, and to keep everyone happy.

[Stealth]

Delegate tasks and ensure team members are involved. Also, don't be too serious all the time. Be someone that they can talk to freely.

[James81]

The best leaders lead by example. Your job as a leader is to BE what you want to SEE. (I'm a poet and don't know it lol)

Another good leadership trait is someone who doesn't try to control every little aspect. A good leader trusts the people who are under him and guides them by example toward the collective goals of the group. He doesn't threaten or punish, he rewards good behavior and ignores the bad. If the bad becomes overpowering, only THEN will the leader take up an active stance and bestow punishment towards the bad.

My suggestions:

1. Make clear, conscious goals for the group
2. Be in tune with the people you lead, learn their strengths and weaknesses, and delegate accordingly
3. Trust the people under you to do what they are "assigned" to do, even if their methods may not be congruent with yours.
4. Assess the effectiveness on a regular basis and come up with solutions in the weaker areas
5. Listen to the people who are under you and have an open mind toward their suggestions.

[pauldickinson]

Don't be afraid to step up and repeat yourself if necessary, and make sure you confront people if they go against what you have previously agreed. You don't have to be a hard-ass, think "iron fist with a velvet glove".

[timothydrake]

Tell you what friend. Everytime you fall stand back up for more. The school of hard knocks is the best teacher in life. Pain is weakness leaving the body HOOOAH!