Your high school years will lay the foundation for your future success, and leadership often translates to success. The habits you establish now will carry forward and have an impact on where you go in college and beyond—so it’s important to cultivate a positive, can-do attitude. You can start this positive journey by becoming a great student leader in high school and developing your leadership skills for the future. But just how do you do so? It all starts with knowing yourself and your unique strengths.
Identify leadership opportunities
Becoming a great leader starts with identifying what you're passionate about. Maybe you have a disability, so you understand accessibility challenges. Perhaps you plan on a career as a doctor and have concerns about processed meats in cafeteria lunches. Find those passions and let your values guide you. Think about how you can use them to make your school better. Take the reins and get creative. If you want to see more fresh vegetables in school lunches, talk to vendors at your local farmers’ market on the weekend. Ask if they’d like to partner with your cafeteria and present your findings at the next school board meeting.
Build upon your strengths
Do you cheer—at least on the inside—when your English teacher assigns a creative writing project? Do you love nothing more than solving a scientific puzzle or coding an app? Build on these strengths and skills because your interests and personality type will influence how you lead now and where you go in the future. Imagine you’re on a school dance committee. If you’re a social butterfly, you might take charge of ticket sales. If you’re introverted and artistic, you might decorate the gym. Whether you’re a helper or a doer, your innate skills can help you identify a unique way to lead. Identify your interests and apply them to a need.
Related: Leadership in High School: What Does It Mean?
Plot a course for your goals
You don’t earn your driver’s license by sitting at the wheel and pressing the gas. You need to learn the rules of the road first. Likewise, you need to take a systematic approach to reach your leadership goals by creating a plan for how you're going to achieve them. Each morning, identify one thing you can do that day to make progress. If you want to start a female lacrosse league, you might reach out to 10 adults about raising donations. Be patient—you don’t win greatness overnight. It requires persistent effort until you obtain the desired result.
Practice active listening
Even if you’re smart enough to get on the Jeopardy! Teen Tournament, you can learn a lot from others. The most successful business people make relationship building and active listening the core of their strategy. Open communication fosters a creative and collaborative environment perfect for growth. When a friend or classmate speaks, put your phone away and listen, even if you don’t share the same point of view. Resist the urge to interrupt or mentally plan your response. Value their time and input.
Related: How to Master the Art of Setting and Refining Your Goals
Learn from your mistakes
As the great Thomas Edison once said, “I haven’t failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Put away your fear of failure. Instead, adopt a growth mindset and resolve to learn from your mistakes. It’s natural to feel let down and disappointed if your plan flops. That’s okay. Most people don't succeed at their big plans on the first try, and no one is the perfect leader right out of the gate. Dust yourself off and try again. After all, you now know what not to do.
Have a little fun with leadership
People tend to follow individuals who make them smile and laugh—people who come off as easy to work with and trustworthy. Organize a fun retreat or a bonding activity to bring your teammates closer together. See if you can find enough friends to take a field trip to a Renaissance fair or science center. Learning is only a chore if you make it one—why not do your part to make it engaging and entertaining instead?
Related: 5 Simple Ways You Can Make Studying More Fun
Lead the change you want to see
Becoming a leader in high school means taking affirmative action toward the changes you want to see while improving yourself as a person. When you identify a need and work tirelessly alongside others, you can transform your school environment, optimize your high school career, and supercharge your future.
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