FLASHFACTS

Leadership Opportunities

What and Where are they?

Being a leader could be defined as the ability of one person to demonstrate the influence that they possess over others involved in a group. The opportunities to lead are few and should be taken advantage of when they present themselves. Before becoming a leader its important to know what it takes to become one.

What a Leadership Opportunity is: It is the opportunity to demonstrate that you have the skills and style necessary for other people to follow you.

The Skills that a Leader needs:

• A Charismatic Personality- This means that you need charm and grace to gather followers to them through personality rather than through any type of external power or authority.
• Must Allow others to Participate- rather than making the decision by themselves they seek to involve others in the process, possibly including subordinates, peers, supervisors, and other stakeholders.
• Acknowledge Different Situations- A leader will be put into various situations that require tact to reach the best outcome, all the while knowing that there are factors such as previous perceptions that will affect your ability to lead.
• Use Transactions- There should be benefits to having you as a leader
• A Caring Attitude- The leader that is energetic and caring for the subordinates and the issues can get the best results from the followers
• Know when to be Silent- A quiet leader shows confidence in their own abilities to handle any situation.

Where Leadership Opportunities are Found

There are opportunities to be a leader everyday in almost every setting all around campus such as:

• Kent Interhall Council
• Organizations that support professional aspirations (i.e. Alpha Xi Delta and Delta Sigma Pi)
• Student ambassadors
• Various fraternities and sororities.
• Orientation Leaders for freshman orientation classes

There are also other opportunities outside campus that will allow you to demonstrate your leadership skills. One way to show your desire to lead is to be a volunteer for a non-profit organization. A listing of organizations that need volunteers for projects and services can be found by either inquiring in person or contacting the Center for Student Involvement in the Student Center. Take the opportunities to lead that are presented to you and make it possible for you to grow as a leader. Most importantly do not let the situation pass you by when it presents itself and always be true to your personal convictions.

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