I just finished rereading Orson Scott Card’s book, Ender’s Game, and aside from being a great read, it is practically a handbook on student leadership. So okay, the main character is a genius six year old with the fate of mankind resting on his teeny shoulders, but that’s kind of like being a student leader at college, right? Kind of?
I won’t give away any of the plot points (because you really should read it), but here is an overview of what the hero, Ender Wiggin learns about leadership.
- Power does not come from fear but from respect.
- A team empowered to think independently is stronger than a team that follows orders perfectly.
- Give each team member autonomy, responsibility, and a chance to shine.
- Avoid talking down to team members and never make fun of them - it could make you the big shot for a few moments but will ultimately lead people to lose trust in you.
- Give praise when praise is due.
- Make time to work with team members privately, in small groups and one-on-one.
- Stay in control of your emotions so that people can depend on you, but show your human side so that people can empathize with you.
- Push your team members to be their best - they’ll get tired, but they’ll appreciate it.
- If insect-like aliens come to take over your college, remember to have fun while you’re destroying them.
(A wonderfull www.xkcd.com comic that you'll get if you read the book)
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