10 Principles of Leadership

“What makes a good club leader?”

Club organizers often ask this question. As they should! Club leadership is a tremendous opportunity and responsibility for students and parents alike. As a veteran of speech and debate coach, I often have conversations about club leadership. The conversation usually starts with teaching acumen. For good reason - a club leader should be able to compellingly teach the tools of public speaking.

However, a leader’s behavior and character is vitally important. Students learn from how a leader acts, not just what a leader teaches. Thus, effective leaders cannot only be focused on content knowledge. To train the leaders of tomorrow, we must be the leaders of today. 

I have a deep passion for helping club leaders identify and grow their leadership abilities. The goal is to encourage growth, not disparage weakness. All leaders have strengths and weaknesses, myself included. Understanding and addressing those weaknesses is paramount for leaders achieving their own potential as well as their students’ potential.

When I have a conversation about leadership, it usually happens over coffee and revolves around the following 10 key markers of a good club leader. I can’t offer coffee in a blog post, but I can break down the 10 key markers:

Courage not timidity

Leaders are unafraid to confront issues and hold others accountable. Leaders who cannot respectfully handle confrontation will not challenge others to grow.

Empathy not disconnect

Leaders that connect with their students make them feel safe and welcome in joining a vibrant community. Leaders who form cliques will splinter community and foster favoritism. 

Driven not passive

Leaders who push the boundaries of excellence and take the initiative to grow will inspire others to do the same. Leaders who coast will create students who coast and who value “good enough.”

Gratitude not entitlement

Leaders are thankful and humble and do not place themselves on a pedestal. Leaders who presume they are owed leadership privileges do not steward them well.

Integrity not duplicity

Leaders have character that is steadfast regardless of who is watching. Leaders who change depending on the group they are with are not trustworthy role models.

Positivity not fatalism

Leaders must believe their students can succeed. Leaders who succumb to pessimistic fatalism will create self-fulfilling prophecies that encourage students to fail.

Passion not apathy 

Leaders who are passionate will ignite passion in others. Leaders who demonstrate apathy will stoke apathy in their students

Respect not egoism

Leaders model respect, even for those they disagree with. Leaders who only respect themselves will teach their students to do the same.

Self-awareness not self-absorbed

Leaders can read a room and see the needs of others. Leaders who can only see their own needs miss opportunities to serve students around them.

Teachability not arrogance

Leaders who are willing to learn will teach students to never stop learning. Leaders who presume they know all they need to know will teach their students to be close-minded.

The goal of this list is to start a conversation! It isn’t meant to be exhaustive and defining, but a starting place based on my experiences and observations. Potential leaders can be considered with these principles in mind. Current leaders are worth intentional conversations about growth with these principles in mind. I’m passionate about these conversations and welcome questions or comments. Leave a comment below or contact me directly to share your thoughts. And if you’re around my stomping grounds in Northern Virginia, I’m always down for a cup of coffee.