The Student Leadership Bench

Before Selection and Training Season, It’s Time to Assess

This past week I was honored to be on the faculty of a national leadership conference, Commit 2 Excellence (C2E), which was organized by Nancy Hunter Denney and hosted in Boston. The program fed my soul (and killed my feet), but more than anything it allowed for me to have individual conversations with students and advisors. I did several hours of podcasting, and I invite you to listen to my coaching conversations with students. 

It was clear during these coaching conversations as well as other discussions that it is increasingly clear that there is a need to target some attention toward the student leadership bench. Students at the conference as well as those on campuses that I am working are reporting similar experiences. That they don’t have the lived experiences that their advisors are assuming they have. They have found their way into leadership positions, but require some baseline competency building. 

Use empathy and strong coaching practice when speaking to students. Acknowledge that there may be some very good reasons why they may be feeling overwhelmed or under prepared for their leadership position, and you are seeking to not only heighten their level of support, but also, determine as you are hiring for the future, what are the gaps in the team that may be necessary to fill.