TROY UNI: Six Qualities That Can Make A Student Leader Great!. [OPINION]

1.     Integrity:  Leaders must be true to themselves.  Leaders who behave consistently with their value system inspire trust in their followers and are seen as honest.  Leaders need to know themselves well to be true to their values as well as to create a vision for their group that comes from the heart.

2.     Autonomy:  Leaders must be self-directed.  Individuals who can act without an authority figure telling them what to do each step of the way can make the decisions necessary to move their group along towards its goals.  Leaders need to see options, make choices and solve problems in order to direct themselves and others.  With the self-confidence that arises with experience and self-knowledge, the leader has the strength to make choices that lead to accomplishing a vision.

3.     Group Dynamics:  Leaders must involve group members.  Those who assign tasks appropriately to followers and incorporate group members’ ideas into the group vision are recognizing that they can’t be leaders with followers.  Leaders need to know which leadership style best fits each membership style and they need good communication skills.

4.     Human Relations:  Leaders must use the human touch.  Individuals who create an organizational environment in which all participants feel welcome, respected and valued are exercising their power well and can maintain group membership and energy.  Leaders need to know the difference between leadership, management and power wielding.  They need to know how to create an ing atmosphere.  Leadership is an interactive process between people and requires attention to the use of power.

5.     Positioning:  Leaders must see the big picture.  The effective leader knows who to see when his group needs outside help, how to get the resources her group needs and steer his group through the maze of paperwork, policies and procedures that exist in every organization.  Leaders need to know which tasks require the help of those outside their own group.  They need to know how their organization relates to other similar organizations and to the college.  Some of this information involves learning about rules, regulations and procedures.  Other information is more subtle, involving interpersonal and interoffice relationships.

6.       Task Effectiveness:  Leaders must get the job done.  Competent leaders match tasks to followers’ abilities and motivations, provide training, etc.

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