Intro

Why Leadership Matters

Be competitive in school and the workplace
Gain respect and recognition
Be someone that people want to work with

Create impact to benefit yourself and others

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Why Leadership Matters

A lack of leadership skills are holding back new grads from

entering the workforce

o Nearly half of employers cited soft skills such as communication,

critical thinking, and collaboration as the main skills gap (Adecco)

Leadership skills are the key to career progression

For every job, though, the No. 1 thing we look for is general cognitive
ability....[The second] is leadership in particular emergent leadership as
opposed to traditional leadership....What we care about is, when faced with a
problem and youre a member of a team, do you, at the appropriate time, step
in and lead.
- Laslo Bock, SVP People Operations of Google
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Why Leadership Matters

Competitive colleges seek applicants with a record of leadership who
are likely to contribute to their schools & communities:
We look for students who make a difference in their schools and communities.Most
[Princeton students] invested their energy and talents in significant ways outside the
classroom.. Princeton
we seek students who will serve as leaders not only in the classroom, but in the community
at large.A strong non-academic record might reflect a wide range of talents and
achievements or distinguished accomplishment in just one or a few areas. Williams

Your extracurricular preparation speaks to what youve done beyond the classroom. How have
you become a leader at your school and in your community? ... It speaks to what kind of person
you are and how well you might do in a dynamic, multifaceted campus community. - Michigan
we look for students who have demonstrated strong academic skills and intellectual curiosity,
and who have engaged in activities outside the classroom that have nurtured their growth as
leaders. - Vanderbilt
Has the student been a significant contributor or leader? How has the involvement
contributed to the school or larger community?...We do not expect all students to be team
captains, class presidents, or editors-in-chief; rather, we look for meaningful involvement in
their school and/or community. - Tufts
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What is Leadership?
It is not

It is

About titles or authority

About influencing and empowering

others to achieve a goal

Just about yourself

A set of skills that can be learned

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What is Leadership?
The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born-that
there is a genetic factor to leadership. Thats nonsense; in fact, the
opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.
- Warren Bennis, professor and founder of The Leadership Institute at USC

The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.

- Kenneth Blanchard, author and management expert
As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who
empower others.
- Bill Gates, former CEO of Microsoft

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Leadership Model

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Self-Assessment
Strongly disagree

Criteria
Im good at remembering what people say
Its easy for me to get to know people
I am confident when I meet new people
I frequently set goals for myself
I feel comfortable expressing my opinions
I can get people to agree with me
I am good at public speaking
I know a lot of people who are different from me
I am comfortable working in a team
I can take charge in a group setting
Its easy to make decisions that affect others
Im comfortable giving feedback
Im comfortable receiving feedback

I deal well with conflict

I know a lot of people who can help me out

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Strongly agree

Tip: Understand yourself and others

Which box(es) do you relate to?
What leadership strengths and weaknesses are exhibited by each type?

PeopleOriented

TaskOriented

Introverted

Extroverted

Tends to be reserved
Detail-oriented, good with facts
Focuses on getting things done
Often very organized

Tends to be outgoing and assertive

Focuses on getting things done
Confident telling others what to do

Tends to be reserved and

sensitive
Likes to work in a team
Important to feel accepted
Thoughtful of others

Tends to be outgoing and sociable

Spreads enthusiasm
Enjoys attention
Confident in working with others

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Tip: Understand yourself and others

If this is you
PeopleTaskOriented Oriented

Introverted

Extroverted

Seek opportunities to socialize and

relate to others, work in teams,
express opinions

Seek opportunities to work on

listening/empathy skills, work as a team
member, motivate others

Seek opportunities to think critically,

speak up, give direction

Seek opportunities to relate to different

types of people, develop listening skills,
stay focused on task

If this is the other person

PeopleTaskOriented Oriented

Introverted

May take time to get to know, engage

in intelligent conversation

Show that you are committed to the

task, be direct and confident in working
with them

They appreciate people who are open

and talkative, also give them a sense
of acceptance and encouragement

Socialize with them first, try to

appreciate their level of energy and
humor

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Extroverted

Class 1

Skill #1 Active Listening

Why should I care?
A good leader cares about people and their opinions
Being a good listener will help you build relationships
Not being a good listener makes people think you arent
interested in them or their thoughts
"The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be
understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.
-Ralph Nichols, Professor at Univ. of Minnesota

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Skill #1 Active Listening

Dos
Pay attention and signal understanding by nodding,
saying ok, etc.
Ask questions or summarize what the other person

said to increase understanding

Share your ideas, opinions, experiences in response
Show you are interested through your body language
Identify the meaning behind the words

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Skill #1 Active Listening

Donts
Get distracted or do other things at the same time
Talk over others or interrupt
Judge or block out the other person because you
disagree
Change the conversation to be all about you
Be unresponsive

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Exercise: Listening Role-Play

What listening dos and donts is Leslie demonstrating?
Jamie: Argh, I just had the worst week.
Leslie: Why, what happened?
Jamie: I think I did terrible on the biology test and
Leslie: Oh me too! It was just impossible and I studied so hard for it. Plus
I twisted my ankle in track practice. I just cant wait for the weekend.
Jamie: Im sorry to hear about the ankle. It sounds like everyone thought
the test was

Leslie: No way! I cant believe that Rory asked Dani to the prom. I need
to talk to her right away. See ya!
Jamie: Alright, bye.

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Skill #2 Building Relationships

Why should I care?
When you successfully build relationships, you become
known, trusted, and liked
Expand your circle of friends, allies, and advocates
You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other
people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in
you.
- Dale Carnegie, author of How to win friends and influence people

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Skill #2 Building Relationships

Show interest in others
-

ask questions, start a conversation

remember something about the other person

Be approachable
-

put the other person at ease (watch your body language)

Exchange information
-

share something about yourself

find out what you have in common

Show empathy
Maintain & grow relationships over time

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Skill #2 Building Relationships

Potential conversation starters:
-

Ask about someones weekend (What are you up to?)

Make a compliment (Those are cool shoes)
Introduce yourself (Ive see you around but dont think
weve met, Im)
Comment on something of the other persons interest
(Youre on the soccer team, right? How did the match go?)
Comment on the weather or an event (That class was so
boring! What did you think?)
Ask for advice (Id like to hear more about your experience
with )

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Class Activity: Speed Meeting

Instructions:
1.
2.

Each student will meet every other student for 2 minutes

Introduce yourselves (school, grade, favorite subjects,
hobbies, interests, experiences, goals, etc) and have a short
conversation

Use what you just learned about active

listening & building relationships

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Activity Self-Reflection
Select at least two areas that you think you were good at (Strength)
Select at least two areas youd like to work on (Development)
Strength

Feeling comfortable when I first meet someone

Making the other person feel comfortable
Paying attention to what other people were saying

Showing interest in what other people were saying

Remembering what other people were saying
Not interrupting
Maintaining eye contact
Feeling comfortable talking about myself
Taking turns talking and listening

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Development