Leaders, in general, are a little different from everyone else. They may not be smarter or wealthier, but they will almost certainly have more motivation and more innate self-confidence. Some are more charismatic and extroverted than the rest of us. Did you know that some studies have shown that people who demonstrated leadership experience while still in school get paid a third more than those without?
Indeed, early leadership experience can be valuable when you enter the workplace.
The question that arises though, is “Should I take on leadership roles in university?”
The Pros and Cons of Leadership
Most psychologists will agree that if you work in an environment which allows you to be who you are, then you will be happier and more successful. If you are a born leader with the qualities listed above, then that bodes well.
However, what if you want to be a leader and gain this valuable experience while in university, but you are not quite sure if this is the right path for you?
If this is the case, then you would need to weigh up whether chasing after leadership roles will help or hinder you. Before you dive into anything, ask yourself the following questions:
- Am I comfortable taking the lead in a group of people?
- How much time do I have to spend on pursuits that don’t directly affect my degree?
- Will I be able to juggle these additional responsibilities with the workload that I currently have?
- Will the requirements of the roles that I desire make me uncomfortable or go against my value system?
- Am I looking to these roles to expand my skill set or for praise and popularity?
The answers to these questions, while intensely personal, will be able to guide you on the right path.
Something to consider is that if you are aiming for a leadership role, then this looks very different once you leave varsity. It’s no longer a popularity contest with low stakes, but you’re shooting for a position with a lot of stress and responsibility. Is that what you want?
Yes, some of us are born leaders, and some of us choose to spend the morning surfing before starting our less critical roles. Who are you, really?