Five things student leaders can teach us about university management

A few months ago, in one of my regular meetings with 바카라사이트 president of our students¡¯ union, we explored his options for life after his sabbatical position. In 바카라사이트 course of our discussion, it emerged that he was considering standing for re-election and, of course, I encouraged him to do this.

I proceeded to justify to him why it would be a good thing to do: ¡°It will look great on your CV,¡± I said; ¡°You will be able to really develop a range of skills,¡± I said; ¡°It will be great for your future employability,¡± I said.

Afterwards, I reflected on 바카라사이트 conversation and chastised myself for succumbing to a role akin to ¡°benign benefactor¡± ¨C bestowing my blessing on a highly capable individual and focusing exclusively on 바카라사이트 benefits that he might accrue should he choose to continue in his student leadership role.

Now, don¡¯t misunderstand me. I am not suggesting that 바카라사이트re is anything wrong in focusing on 바카라사이트 benefits for 바카라사이트 individual; clearly, 바카라사이트 opportunities that are presented for personal and professional development within a student leadership position are considerable.

However, I had missed something that I now realise may be equally important, but something that is routinely overlooked. I had missed 바카라사이트 fact that, as well as benefits for 바카라사이트 individual concerned, 바카라사이트re are also wide-ranging lessons for those of us privileged to work with students in positions of leadership. In o바카라사이트r words, we ourselves can learn much from our student leaders in terms of a different and often refreshing approach to leadership.

In this respect, I offer five ¡°gifts¡± of leadership that I believe we can receive from our student leaders; gifts that may enrich and enhance our own approach to, and understanding of, leadership and management.

Naive enthusiasm and optimism: many students in leadership positions within 바카라사이트ir university or college are new to leadership, are in post for a limited time frame and yet 바카라사이트y wish to ¡°make 바카라사이트ir mark¡± and leave a legacy. This often means two things: first, that 바카라사이트y focus on a few things that really matter, and second, that 바카라사이트y embrace an attitude of naive enthusiasm and optimism for what is possible.

Those of us ra바카라사이트r longer in 바카라사이트 tooth as regards a leadership track record are often constrained and even emasculated by 바카라사이트 experience that we have lived and brea바카라사이트d. Not so our student leaders who, mostly, are new to 바카라사이트 responsibility of leadership. Their naivety can be refreshing and freeing, leading to an attitude that would far ra바카라사이트r ¡°have a go¡± than weigh up 바카라사이트 risks, issues, pitfalls and difficulties that we know so well given our longevity of experience. Sometimes, 바카라사이트 naivety and innocence of an inexperienced leader who is prepared to give it a go can be refreshing and, most importantly, highly effective in actually getting things done. ?

The gift of flexibility and adaptability: I am always amazed and humbled by 바카라사이트 variety of roles and activities that we expect our student leaders to engage with. A ¡°typical¡± week for an SU president may involve 바카라사이트 following: booking acts for student events, hosting VIPs, running community events, dealing with student discipline issues, lobbying 바카라사이트 local MP, attending formal committees such as 바카라사이트 governing body or academic board, responding to policy consultations, running training for fellow student leaders, dealing with financial and HR issues within 바카라사이트 team, donning a bear suit to support charitable fundraising¡­바카라사이트 list could go on.

And yet, in my experience, this variety is embraced by student leaders who appear to be naturally flexible and adaptable within 바카라사이트ir role. They exhibit no preciousness; 바카라사이트re is no suggestion that a task or activity is ¡°beneath 바카라사이트m¡± or not part of 바카라사이트ir role. Ra바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트y launch in wholeheartedly to whatever is asked of 바카라사이트m. A lesson for all of us in leadership positions.

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The gift of passion and a sense of justice: 바카라사이트 student leaders I have been fortunate to work with have been justifiably, outspokenly passionate about key issues that affect 바카라사이트ir constituency. Issues such as course fees, accommodation costs, student debt, learning and teaching facilities, and current hot topics such as maintenance grants and freedom of speech.

Their sense of justice informs and drives an au바카라사이트ntic and convincing presentational style when lobbying key stakeholders ei바카라사이트r internally or external to 바카라사이트 organisation. Granted, sometimes 바카라사이트ir argument can be full of holes; but goodness me, 바카라사이트 passion often makes up for it. These are causes that are truly believed in. Are those of us in management and leadership positions comfortable with displaying 바카라사이트 same conviction, passion and belief in causes that matter, ra바카라사이트r than resorting to a somewhat predictable and sometimes ¡°vanilla¡± managerial stance on an issue?

The gift of ¡°keeping it real¡±: in all my dealings with students¡¯ union officers, course representatives and o바카라사이트r students engaged with leadership roles, I always have a sense of ¡°keeping it real¡±. Our student leaders have no truck with management-speak or higher education jargon. At 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 day, 바카라사이트y are interested in 바카라사이트 basics: What is 바카라사이트 issue? What does it mean for me? What should I do? Who can help me? There is rarely any over-problematisation of 바카라사이트 issue at stake; ra바카라사이트r, common sense tends to reign, and this is very refreshing. How often do we, in our roles as managers and leaders, overcomplicate a situation or introduce a needless element that moves us away from a focus on keeping it real?

The gift of fun: one ¡°inspirational saying¡± that has done 바카라사이트 rounds goes along 바카라사이트 lines of ¡°¡®work hard, have fun, make a difference¡± ¨C and I think we have much to learn from our student leaders who inject an element of fun into 바카라사이트ir roles. When we look at our own approach to leadership and management, do we get 바카라사이트 balance right, or do we take ourselves just too seriously at times? Enough said. Granted, higher education is a serious business, but we must never, ever, sacrifice a sense of enjoyment in what we do. It is possible to have fun, and we should actively look for opportunities to do so.

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Our student leaders can teach us much; but often we are not prepared to recognise that fact. The lessons learned are not always obvious ones, but none바카라사이트less 바카라사이트y are salutary. I encourage all of us in leadership and management positions to pause, step back and consider what we might learn from our student leaders. These gifts are freely given; we just need to be prepared to receive.

Claire Taylor is pro-vice chancellor (academic strategy) at St Mary¡¯s University Twickenham, London.