What Makes a Great Leader in School?
Great leaders are not the loudest in the room. They make others better. In school, leadership shows up in small, repeatable actions—how you listen, share credit, and solve problems together.
The Three Pillars
- Confidence: Speak clearly, own your decisions, and admit when you do not know something.
- Kindness: Respect people’s time, feelings, and effort; notice quiet voices.
- Listening: Ask questions first; summarise what you heard before giving your view.
Habits You Can Practise Today
- One clear ask: “By today 5 pm, please send your slides.”
- One thanks a day: “Thanks for finishing the citations.”
- One check-in: “Anything blocking you?”
Core Skills
- Decision-making: List options, pros and cons, pick one, review later.
- Conflict resolution: Define the problem, agree on facts, find a workable next step.
- Feedback: “Keep, improve, try”—name one of each.
Leadership in Common School Scenarios
- Group projects: Clarify roles, deadlines, and the shared goal on one page.
- Sports or clubs: Encourage effort, model punctuality, praise teamwork not just talent.
- Student council: Collect input from classmates and report back on actions.
Starter Plan (Two Weeks)
- Pick one pillar to focus on (confidence, kindness, or listening).
- Practise it with one small action daily.
- Ask a friend for feedback at the end of week two.
Related Reads
Key Takeaway
Leadership is a practice: be clear, be kind, and listen well. Do these consistently and people will trust you to lead.
Find more student leadership tools at Ichhori.com.