From my very first class at the University of Pittsburgh through today, I have heard countless times about the importance of leadership experience. Professors and advisors have told me that attaining a leadership position in one organization is much more impressive than just being a member of many different organizations. I never understood the importance of what my professors and mentors were saying until I began to search for internships.
I found an interesting article by Bruce Weinstein from BusinessWeek about challenging individuals to assess themselves as leaders. I think it would be beneficial for every student/employee to follow these guidelines in the workplace or at school. Mr. Weinstein proposed the following leadership guidelines in an article titled, "Are You a Good Leader?" (see article here.)
1. What’s good for the Gander is good for the Goose (It’s unethical for firms to keep compensation so high in the midst of a recession)
2. Know your product
3. Winning (at all costs) is for losers
4. Tell the truth
5. Prevent harm
6. Don’t exploit
7. Don’t make promises you can’t keep
8. Take responsibility for your mistakes
9. People, not profits
10. Be kind, not King
As a student currently participating in student organizations and searching for internships, I can see how all of these guidelines apply to undergraduate students. Effective leaders are at a premium in the business world, so it is important to learn the skills necessary to be a successful leader. I recently took a leadership position in my business fraternity (social chair) and I hope to improve my skills so I can be an effective leader. It bothers me when I see students that sign up for every organization they see, but do not take any leadership positions. If an employer saw that on a resume, I believe the employer would want to question the candidate why he or she did not pursue leadership roles in any of the organizations.
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