Building Employability Skills - Part 1: Leadership
When seeking new opportunities, being able to say that you have good leadership skills is a great way to show that you are prepared for a new challenge. Leadership experience will demonstrate to employers that you have a lot of in-demand skills such as being able to work with others, handle responsibility, and take initiative. These types of qualities are useful for any kind of position, which is why they are highly valued by many employers.
What Makes a Good Leader?
So what do we mean when we say “leadership skills?” There are all kinds of skills that you can use to be a good leader such as being creative, having a positive attitude, or having good organizational skills. There is no specific mold you have to fit, whatever skills you have can be used to enhance your abilities as a leader! However, usually when in a leadership role, it is helpful to also have the following strengths:
Interpersonal skills: Being able to work well with others is essential when it comes to being a good leader. Practicing healthy communication and contributing to discussions while also listening to others ensures that a group is able to work well together and resolve conflict smoothly. When working with others, it is also important to model the expectations you have for others so that they can follow your example.
Adaptability: Being able to adapt when things do not go according to plan is a very useful skill when you find yourself in a leadership role. It allows you to take action when something unexpected happens and reorient the group. Adaptability also allows you to be open to new ideas and effectively consider everyone else’s opinions when making decisions.
Confidence: Taking the initiative to be a leader often requires you to have confidence in both yourself and others. You have to be able to put yourself out there and suggest new ideas while also trusting the rest of your team to do their roles and accomplish what they have been delegated to do.
Gaining Leadership Experience
Now that we have established what leadership skills are and why they are important, how do you go about gaining leadership experience? Any opportunity that you have to work with other people is a great chance to practice leadership skills. Here are a few ways you can get experience:
School: Many teachers use group projects and presentations as a way of teaching students important teamwork and communication skills. Most schools also have student government positions and clubs that you can join to practice being a leader in your school community
Extracurricular activities: There are many opportunities to work with others outside of school. The more you interact in a group setting, the more familiar you will be with what team roles work best for you. These types of activities can include sports teams, music ensembles, cadets, theatre, or any school club
Volunteering: Having experience as a volunteer demonstrates to employers that you have taken the initiative to get involved in your community and are capable of managing multiple responsibilities. There are also many volunteer opportunities that allow youth to take on leadership roles depending on what kind of organization you choose to work with. Some places that offer youth volunteer opportunities include the Halifax Regional Police, SPCA, Feed Nova Scotia, Halifax Public Libraries, and Souls Harbour Rescue Mission
Youth Programs: There are opportunities in Nova Scotia that are specifically aimed at developing youth leadership capacity. Certain programs such as the HRM Youth Leadership Program and YMCA Youth Leadership Program provide training and mentorship that equip youth with the skills and confidence to become community leaders. There are also ways that you can lead by representing the youth in your community such as the Ombudsman Youth Council, Nova Scotia Youth Forum (Girls Guides of Canada), and HRM Youth Advisory Committee. These kinds of positions allow you to practice communicating ideas and concerns on behalf of other youth
Mentorship Roles: If you like working with children or peers, this is the perfect way to gain leadership experience! Volunteering or working at a camp or daycare, babysitting, tutoring, or other mentorship programs allow you to get experience helping and guiding others. In Nova Scotia, there are many opportunities for youth to help with different camp programs such as Halifax REC. Hope Blooms and the YMCA also offer opportunities in peer mentorship and tutoring
Leadership can also be applied to the little things like making sure everyone in your social group is being included, taking on more responsibility at home, or organizing things with your friends. The more you get involved, the more comfortable you will feel taking on leadership roles and the more opportunities will be presented to you.
When Leadership Skills Come in Handy
Having good leadership skills can be very useful in a variety of situations. It is unlikely that you will immediately find yourself in a leadership position upon entering the workforce, but you still have to be accountable to yourself, co-workers, and employer. Having the ability to be responsible for yourself is a great place to start in order to reach success. This can look like being proactive with how you manage your time, looking into new learning opportunities, or being responsive to the feedback that you are given. Practicing these skills will help prepare you to take on leadership roles in the future.
Leadership is not just useful for the workplace, but also in everyday life. In fact, these skills can help you take ownership even when no one is watching. Having that kind of self-motivation will help you with things like independent passion projects, accomplishing specific life goals or coming up with new ideas and solutions to problems.
The more experience you gain as a leader, the more opportunities you will have to grow and develop your own leadership style. These types of skills will be incredibly valuable to you as you move forward in your career and all other areas of your life. Keep up the good work!
- Sophie Ashton, Co-op Student