I’ve been involved in a number of student-run organizations and clubs throughout high school and as a current college student. Whether that be student council, DECA, dance team, student news team or the event planning kids on campus; I’ve seen and been involved in a wide range of “leadership situations” as I like to call them. From member status to active president status, I’ve experienced everything from incredibly, smooth like butter group dynamics; to the nightmare, nails on a chalkboard group dynamics.
Although individual characteristics of team members can play a huge role in what works and what doesn’t; the leader of the group has the ability to either reinforce the poor behaviors or provide a ladder to help their organization achieve with what they have.
Based on what I’ve seen or personally experienced, I’ve collected a list of the top five pitfalls student leaders encounter that prevent them and their team from success. As you read each, reflect on your own current and or past experiences so you can avoid the dangerous setbacks.
1.) "The Resume Collector"
I define this type of person as an individual who seeks out a position of leadership with only the intention of listing it on their resume, with no actual interest or vision for the organization.
Don’t be a Resume Collector- Invest time where it’s meaningful. You’ll be more proud of listing it on a resume and it will be more meaningful for you if it’s something you actually care about. Besides, it annoys the crap out people in the organization who have a fire burning passion and you don’t have the commitment to support them. You act more like a wall, rather than a provider of door-opening opportunities.
This one is dangerous because this habit can extend into the rest of your life and then you’ll contribute to the culture of being a zombie going to work, creating an unhappy society.
Make the changes now to put your time into something you value. If you don’t get it right, don’t worry. Try again.
2.) Booking a flight for a power trip
There’s a stereotype that leaders are supposed to have all of the answers and know everything, but I’d actually prefer it if they didn’t have all of the answers.
Why? Because then they remain curious and innovative, but most of all, they will be humble in their decision making from seeking input from others. By remaining in the mindset of “always learning,” student leaders can avoid the pitfall of letting power get to their heads.
3.) Preventing others from leading
This point kind of ties into the previous one too. Tom Peters, a business author and speaker, once said, “Leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders.” Give others the chance to run an event or meeting or take up a new committee. 
By allowing others to take leadership, you build a stronger organization with more passionate, invested people who feel like they have a purpose. Purpose is powerful.
4.) The statement that kills or kindles: “We’re just a student organization”
There’s a big difference between these two following statements: “We’re just a student organization” and “We’re just a student organization”. Before you think it’s a typo, let me explain using a bit of emphasis where it matters.
“We’re just a student organization”
I’ve heard peers of mine say this very sentence and it drives me nuts. Do you realize what you’re saying? Even if you haven’t said it, just by thinking the same way unleashes the same consequences. By leading with this statement, you are limiting what you and your group can accomplish. You are taking away the right for you and your peers to dream big. You’re saying that being of student level status disables you from making waves, setting higher expectations and as an overall result, you set yourself up to be average, if not below average.
Stop limiting yourself because you are a student. As a student, you are amongst the most innovative, thought-provoking and waving-making generation. Stop using your age and education as an excuse from following your dreams and striving to accomplish great things.
“We’re just a student organization.”
Student leaders who fail are the ones you don’t believe in mistakes and don’t value trying again.
Playing an active role in a student-run group is one of the best experiences you can have while in high school and or college. Besides the social aspects, it’s the number one way to learn and grow your skill set both personally and professionally. Sure, you can learn leadership and management concepts in the classroom, but you don’t have the luxury of learning what you want, applying the voluntary knowledge and learning to experiment with it.
Like the previous paragraphs mentioned, you are allowed to dream big and it gets even better because as a student, you still have the time and flexibility to try things out, learn how to adapt them and unleash new ways of thinking through active participation.
You are allowed to make mistakes. You are allowed to try again and again and again. You have a big idea? You have no excuses to not do it. If it doesn’t work the first time, then you work together, do some research, ask questions; then, refine it and get it up and running.
There’s no grade that pushes you to do better in a student organization. Your own passion and thirst for the subject combined with your own definition of success is what drives you.
Let me repeat that one more time: There is no grade that pushes you to do better in a student organization. Your own love and dreams surrounding the topic is what sets the bar.
Embrace the shit out of that freedom.
5.) Letting the wrong opinions diminish success
Whether you open yourself up for feedback or it’s given to you unsolicited- be grateful. Feedback is what helps you evolve your skill-set. However, I’ve experienced the downside of this beauty. Much too often I’ve let the wrong opinions get to me. The opinions that won’t help me positively grow; the ones that stick in my head and begin to build a complex; a wall that prevents me from seeing my own accomplishments.
Draw your line in the sand now for who you value opinions from, the feedback you will take to heart; separated from those whom you only take a grain of salt from. This practice will save you a lot of heartache, conflict and gossip; plus, it’ll make you a stronger individual.
If you have passion for what you do, nothing can stop you from becoming successful.
