Introduction
Ever wonder if you have the ability to be in a leadership role, or feel like you don’t have the skills? Trust me, you do! Having the ability to be a leader is not cultivated just in leadership roles but in everyday life. As a person, you have multiple roles that you hold, including but not limited to student, family member, and friend. Read on to find out how leadership shows up in your life.
As a Student, Family, and Friend
As a student, you show your capability as a leader every day, whether you notice it or not. There are always opportunities for group work and class discussions where you build your communication, active listening, and collaboration skills. Even as a general member of a student organization or club on campus, which you can find more information about here, you contribute to making yourself a leader. As a general member, you show up ready to help and participate, listen to what your peers have to say, and give your input and feedback. All the roles you have as a student shape who you are and the kind of leader you are becoming.
As a family member and friend, there are many situations that allow you to utilize your skills. You juggle between your work life and social life, and even more as a student, parent, or caregiver. Managing all your responsibilities and time with family and friends requires organizational skills, setting priorities, and effective time management. It is not easy, and in the midst of these life experiences, you are cultivating new skills and sharpening old ones. Think about all the skills you have used without realizing it.
Consider This
- You are working on a project with other students. Like all group work, communication is essential to get it done. In this situation, you can ask yourself: how am I communicating with my group? Am I initiating conversations and being an active listener? How am I utilizing my teamwork skills?
- When you organize outings with your friends, are they spontaneous or well-planned out long before the actual event? What skills are you using that ensure the success of these outings?
- You and your friend are in a dispute. How are you resolving this? How are you communicating? Is it effective? Are you listening to your friend’s perspective and concerns?
Importance
As you develop your career skills or competencies throughout your academic journey and experiences here at St. Kate’s, identifying them can help boost your confidence when you speak about them and encourage you to step into any position that you are interested in. Lean on your experiences, even if they are not formal ones, and utilize what you have learned and the competencies you’ve gained. These would be especially helpful to know during interviews and can even be helpful when starting and editing your resume and cover letter. To learn more about how to describe your competencies to employers, click here.
Closing
When you consider each scenario and answer the questions, reflect on your own experiences and identify areas of strength and weakness, and find areas where you want to grow. Keep an open mind and look for opportunities to improve your skills and gain new ones. You can learn about different ways to gain experience here. Maximize each experience you have to grow and develop skills, and step into leadership roles with bravery and confidence.
