I’ve been asked so many times about what the most common challenges students face when it comes to leadership, learning how to become a successful leader both in and out of work. After talking with over 1000 student leaders from around the world, I realized there were 7 challenges that were common across each individual student. I also found that it was much more helpful if we created an ‘ascending pyramid’ of these challenges which helped illustrate the issues and better understand this complex topic.
Most students experience the enormous pressure of being in a leadership position. Studying, working to gain high grades, and participating in extracurricular activities is all hard enough on their own. Add to that being a leader at school? That’s even more challenging. Being a leader means having to overcome your fears and doubts, be more confident with yourself and make decisions quickly—all while being able to handle criticism from other people around you. That’s no easy task for any student or adult in general!
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Leadership is a choice and not a label. It’s a way of thinking, and it’s not just about the organization you work for or the team you’re leading. It’s also about your personal habits, values, goals and ambitions. Even though we live in a time where anyone can become a leader, becoming one comes with challenges. And when those challenges are faced head on and with the right attitude, great results can be achieved.
Are you a student who is about to embark on your college journey? Good for you! Studies have proven that most students face the same challenges during their time in college, and several of them fall flat due to a lack of leadership skills. If you are ready to make the most of your college years, here are seven basic challenges everyone goes through, along with helpful tips on overcoming them.
Successful leaders are those who are able to lead themselves and others. They must be able to identify their weaknesses and strengths, as well as the needs of those they lead. They also must know how to motivate others, how to communicate effectively and how to collaborate with others.
Here are two leadership challenges that most students face:
- Lack of Self-Awareness
Most students do not have a clear understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses. This can lead them to become overconfident in their abilities, which can be dangerous for any leader. It can also prevent them from being able to make the best use of their skills, as well as from recognizing when they need help from others.
- Lack of Motivation
Students may lack motivation because they feel like they don’t need it or that they don’t deserve it. If this is the case, then it’s important for them to recognize this issue so that they can work on improving their motivation levels for future success in their careers or studies.