6 Lessons I Learned as a Student Union President During COVID
Leading a team of 12 other student board members through a period in which post-secondary institutions were heavily impacted by COVID was both exciting and nervewracking — especially considering that I was among the youngest people on the team.
I was extremely fortunate throughout my time with the BCIT Student Association (BCITSA) to work with an incredibly talented and dedicated team who clearly understood what it means to enhance student life. I could not have asked for a better group to spend this year with and my hat goes off to each one of this year’s board members.
Looking back, there were many opportunities where I could have been a better leader, but I suppose that makes for great learning opportunities, eh? Over the course of my 12-month term in office, I managed to pick up some translatable lessons from many of the fabulous people I worked with. Here are some of those lessons:
1) Embrace Your Inner SpongeBob
Leadership roles have a steep learning curve and keeping a growth mindset is critical for success. By being a sponge and trying to soak up as much knowledge as possible, you will slowly become a more effective leader.
2) Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff (and it’s all small stuff)
Don’t get hung up on the small things that you can’t control. It is inevitable that you will make mistakes, show up completely unprepared to a meeting or two, and/or be forced to let go of projects that were much bigger in scope than you initially forecasted. Don’t worry about it — live and learn (and refer to point number 1).
3) As a default, assume you are not Elon Musk
Mr. Musk is commonly referenced as the world’s greatest corporate multi-tasker. As a default, assume you are not him. Rather, pick one or two things that you are deeply passionate about and sink yourself into them. Saying “no” to things is a valuable skill because it gives the opportunity to focus your energy on what is truly important.
4) Be an astrophysicist, not a quantum-physicist
It’s incredibly easy to get bogged down in the details of your job when there are ten-thousand things going on at once. Don’t negate the important details, but avoid spending too much time on the more granular aspects of your organization. Keep your focus on big-ticket items that align with your north star objective.
5) Invest in pompoms and a whistle
Put more simply: Cheerleader + Coach = Leader. You won’t get far by telling your team exactly what to do and how to do it. Rather, you will be far more likely to succeed as a leader if your objectives revolve around these three things: 1) building your teammates’ confidence, 2) help with drawing great ideas out of your team, and 3) supporting them with the resources to make those ideas a reality.
6) Put your socks on before your shoes
With all of the moving parts associated with a leadership position, it’s easy to get ahead of yourself. Remember that great leaders are known for asking great questions, not having perfect, well-rehearsed answers. Before you dive headfirst into something you’re unsure of, take a second to ask around and make sure your next move truly aligns with your overall objective.
These are just a few of the many lessons that surfaced throughout the year and perhaps you will find some value in them. If not, I hope that you at least enjoyed the headlines. 😊
