[November 12, 2018] Why did you get into university?
Your main goal was to learn and make progress towards a particular career. But if you limit your experience to attending classes and studying, your time at university would be useless. Yes; theoretical knowledge is important. But it’s the skills that make you suitable for a career.
Believe it or not, the educational setting gives you tons of opportunities to work on your leadership skills. We’ll give you 5 important tips on how to benefit from those opportunities.
- Be a Team Leader on Group Projects
Before you earn that degree, you’ll have to complete several papers and assignments. See them not as a boring responsibility, but as an opportunity to improve your writing skills. Leaders have to write well!
When it comes to team projects, they are even more beneficial for your leadership skills. Richard Bennings, part of the team at UK Careers Booster, explains: “Students avoid the team leader role because in addition to doing their part of the work, they also have to coordinate the project. Don’t avoid it! By leading teams at university, you learn how to lead teams in real life.”
- Take a Leadership Course
No matter what your major is, you can probably take a leadership course as an elective. If you don’t have such an opportunity, you can always count on online courses!
Although these courses are based on theory, they are still very useful for developing practical skills. They teach you how to direct your focus in order to become a top-class leader in future.
- Run for a Club President
Clubs are the fun part of education. You meet like-minded people and you make effective use out of your free time. They can help with developing leadership skills, too!
If the club is choosing a new president, you should definitely run for that function. You’ll have to convince the member you’re good enough to be their leader. If they choose you, you’ll have a great opportunity to practice and develop your leadership skills.
- Volunteer!
Leadership doesn’t come without the social responsibility aspect. Great leaders are expected to do well not only for their organizations, but for the community as well. That’s why they organize fundraisers and all kinds of events to help the people, animals, and environment in need.
You shouldn’t wait to become a great leader to start exercising social responsibility. Do that now! Find a great local non-for-profit organization whose values you identify with. Become a volunteer and engage yourself as much as possible in that cause.
- Become Part of Campus Politics
Campus politics can be a test of your leadership skills. The idea of becoming a leader of students at a university may sound overwhelming. But it’s a challenge that’s definitely worth accepting.
Your university gives students a chance to run for a political office in their faculty. So why neglect it?
Do you have what it takes to become a great leader? Your time at university is a test. Use every opportunity you get to become a great leader before you graduate.
Enjoyed your article today. Thanks Eugene.
Reading a good book on leadership is also a great way to learn a little about leadership while going to a university. It might be better than a class. Great article. Thank you.
I thoroughly enjoyed your blog post today, thanks.
I have two kids in college and both took leadership courses (at two different universities) and both told me the courses were almost worthless. The focus was on “types” of leadership and almost nothing on its application.
I had the same experience. Usually the courses are taught by professors who have zero experience in leadership application and everything they know is out of a textbook written by another professor, also with zero experience.
Taking a leadership course at most colleges may be a problem. On-line courses are not really worth much because leadership means interacting with other people. Classroom settings are not really that much better but at least you are looking others in the eye. Thanks for your informative article today Eugene.
Very good Mr. Eaton. Thank you for your works.
A well-rounded, informative article that all students should read. Thanks for posting today on Gen. Satterfield’s leadership blog where we find many valuable articles daily.
I think the first one about being a team leader on group projects is of the most value. Finding the opportunity, however, will be most challenging. Universities have gotten away from teamwork and now focus almost exclusively on the individual. They are also more interested in protecting the students from outside influences and anything they may think could be controversial. Thanks.
I agree with you, Wesley. Team leadership is a great place to start. But getting the chance to engage may be a problem.
Good article, Mr. Eaton. I like the fact that you stepped up and wrote about leadership at universities where so much of it is lacking.