5 Qualities of Successful Student Leaders

Table of Contents

• Stay authentic
  
• Keep an open mind and always listen
  
• Know how to delegate tasks to achieve common goals
  
• Learn from mistakes to improve for the future
  
• Seek knowledge

Do you have what it takes to effectively lead and inspire a group of your peers? As a student leader, you have the opportunity to develop skills that will prepare you for success in school, college, and life. Besides being personable and opinionated, exceptional leaders always:

Stay authentic. Leaders who are authentic are trusted because they are unwavering, especially when faced with the challenges of popular opinion. As a student government official, be sure the ideals that got you elected are consistent throughout policymaking, planning, etc. and remember to always stay true to yourself and the values you believe in.

Keep an open mind and always listen. Open communication and consideration of all ideas fosters a creative and collaborative environment. A good leader is someone who is comfortable handling suggestions and adapting to changing situations.

Know how to delegate tasks to achieve common goals. A successful leader knows when to take the reins. When it comes to important projects and deadlines, know when and how to allocate responsibility to those around you and be willing to go above and beyond to get it done.

Learn from mistakes to improve for the future. Even if this isn’t your first time being elected, there will most certainly be times where the plan goes wrong. Be prepared for the worst, take responsibility for the outcome, and stay optimistic. A quality leader learns from experience and proactively plans for the future.

Seek knowledge.Leaders are continuously developing their skills so they can continue to inspire their constituents. Interested in developing your leadership skills? Try a hands-on experience that focuses on essential leadership traits necessary for any student government position. Visit Envision by WorldStrides to learn more about our leadership and career immersive programs for students interested in STEM, medicine, engineering, law, and national security! 

Leadership development is a lifelong process, but with the right mindset, student leaders have an invaluable opportunity during your school years to establish strong foundations for your leadership style and skills. If you consistently nurture your capacity for insightful strategy, clear communication, creative vision and bringing out the best in others, you’ll be prepared to powerfully lead in college, career and community.

Editor’s note: This is an updated version of an original article by Envision by WorldStrides. 



 

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