Once we’re out in the workplace, employers are looking for job-ready leadership skills. Here are four key skills to kick-start your career, that students learnt from last year’s Student Leadership Conference:
1. Communication skills:
Leaders should be able to effectively communicate with others. At Uni, you can build on this through your interactions with other students and lecturers. There are three key aspects of being a good communicator:
- The ability to listen to others before responding
- Learning the importance of non-verbal communication, such as communicating online
- Use communication to motivate, engage and build rapport to connect and inspire people
2. Goal setting:
Often, our goals and motivations are poorly defined and forgotten. Understanding how to accomplish these goals impacts the progress and completion of these them. You need to know yourself and where you want to go in life. Leaders can build this skill by having conversations with a team member about their goals, what they want to do and where they want to go. Use S.M.A.R.T goals to help you practice this:
- Specific – your goal must be clear and well defined
- Measurable – it is important to break your goal down into measurable elements
- Attainable – make sure your goal is something that you can actually achieve
- Relevant – is your goal something that is relatable to you and something you want to achieve?
- Timely – it is crucial to install small deadlines for your goals to be completed in
3. Coaching and feedback:
Feedback supports and develops self-awareness for everyone. Coaching is a collaborative relationship focused on developing the people you lead. Feedback and checking in should go both ways to help you develop your leadership skills and your team members’. At Uni, you can ask for feedback from your team or leaders about your leadership regarding performance, communication and goal achievement. This helps you understand what makes for good feedback and how to give it constructively.
4. Time management:
Using your time wisely is important to get the most from your day. Managing your time means respecting yourself and others impacted by your actions or lack thereof. As a leader, you need to look at your own skills and plan ways to continue developing throughout your life. At Uni, try putting your time management skills into practice to ensure you don’t miss anything important for yourself or your peers. Planning out your Uni timetable and other social events on a calendar is an easy way to keep track of everything. You can also set reminders in your phone so that you don’t miss anything!
Learn more leadership skills by signing up for the Student Leadership Conference in Orange from Tuesday 30 October to Thursday 1 November.
