For millions of young adults, the end of summer marks the much anticipated–and occasionally dreaded–return to school.
College is a time for learning from professors. But it’s the lessons that occur beyond the classroom that often become our greatest teachers. Your college years are full of pivotal opportunities to grow and learn more about yourself as a person—and as a leader.
If I could go back in time, here are a few leadership tips I would give to my younger self.
Learn The Art Of Setting Goals
There’s lots of research on the correlation between setting clear and ambitious goals and achieving them. Goals keep us motivated, focused and help measure progress. It’s a great habit to start forming early in life.
There are many different approaches to setting goals, but my favorite method was invented by former Intel CEO Andrew Grove and popularized by investor John Doerr. Grove developed a system called “OKRs” which stands for objectives and key results. The objective part is easy to understand. First, you must establish a list of objectives or goals you want to achieve. Next, you should create a list of key results or steps that will help you achieve those goals. For example, if your goal is to get an A- grade in creative writing this semester, then your key results might be the amount of time you plan to study each week, visit the library, spend with a tutor, attend office hours, etc.
There are many reasons why people establish poor goals–or worse yet, have no goals at all. Establishing quality goals takes time, thought, and some courage, too. It requires ambition and avoiding the temptation to go for what is easy. Don’t get discouraged if you set a goal and come up short. The only people who accomplish every goal are people who should be aiming higher. Learning to be honest and fair with your goals takes time. Master the skill in college and you’ll reap the benefits for life.
Leave The Door Open
When business mogul Mark Cuban bought the Dallas Mavericks, he decided to skip the fancy corporate office and instead place himself in the center of the action. “We had a sales bullpen…and I put my desk right in the middle of them,” Cuban remarked in an interview with GQ last year. From there, he picked up a phone book and started calling potential customers–right beside his employees. The message to his new colleagues was clear: I’m one of you.
This philosophy isn’t just for office settings, it applies to college, too. “Always leave your door open,” my daughter recently remarked to another college-age friend. It’s one of the best ways to be approachable and meet new people.
Good leaders are available and accessible. Start building the habit now.
Get Out And Explore
If you’re headed off to college for the first time, this is probably your first exposure to real independence. Welcome! As the old saying goes: “With great power comes great responsibility.”
To this point, your worldview has been shaped by where you grew up, nearby friends, and family vacations. Your world is about to get a whole lot bigger with tons of new people from different places and backgrounds. Volunteering and community service are great ways to integrate yourself into your surroundings and foster a space for listening and learning.
Once you’ve learned about your college community, you should expand your horizons and consider programs like study abroad. Traveling is a terrific tool for self-learning. Yes, it requires leaving familiar comforts like friends and campus behind–but it’s also one of the best self-investments you can ever make. Not only will you learn in the classroom, but you’ll also build independence, confidence, and become more self-sufficient. All of those skills will ultimately make you a better leader.
Get Real Work Experience
Show me a leader who’s bad at managing money and I’ll show you someone who won’t be a leader for long.
College is a great place to start learning about money. It’s not until you start spending your hard-earned money that you truly appreciate its value. Having a job forces you to understand the rudimentary mechanics of budgeting, cash flow, and saving.
Not only does working give you more financial experience, but it also teaches you many important soft skills–like time management and negotiation–that will help you become a better leader in the long run. You probably won’t find yourself negotiating a corporate merger or massive wage increase in college, but negotiating little things like days off or swapping shifts is a good, low-risk way to learn and improve your negotiating skills. College jobs, especially in industries like retail and food service, offer daily lessons in customer service, attention to detail, patience, and self-restraint.
Your college job will probably be unglamorous and will likely cause you to miss out on time with friends. But it’s a great learning opportunity. As you grow older, your workload will only increase, and knowing how to navigate the social, educational, and financial pressures of life will make you a better person and help you achieve better balance.
Get Involved In New Clubs & Activities
Self-discovery is not a spectator sport. To grow, you must put yourself out there, try new things, make mistakes, and learn from them.
While touring colleges with my children, I was amazed at how many awesome clubs, groups, and social organizations exist today. College has come a long way since I went to school and the opportunities to get involved are endless. The key is to follow your passion and get involved. You can’t be excellent at anything unless you’re obsessed with something. Not only will you discover what you enjoy, but you’ll also learn what you dislike, which can be just as valuable. And you never know when a skill you learn in college may resurface later in your career.
Once you discover a club or organization on campus that inspires you, don’t just settle on becoming a member–become a leader. Whether it’s serving on an executive board or running for an elected position, this is your chance to gain valuable leadership skills in a low-risk setting. If you don’t see a club that fits your particular interest, you can always start one yourself. You may not think you’re ready to organize big events, manage large groups of people, or meet all of the qualifications of the role, but don’t let that dissuade you–especially if you’re a woman. Research shows that women only apply for jobs when they meet 100% of the qualifications. Bucking this statistic requires building confidence and a strong backbone.
Step outside your comfort zone and start developing your leadership skills now.
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