Developing Leadership Skills at University: A Student Guide

Needless to say, if you’re a university student, you will acquire an abundance of different skills. Among these, perhaps the most important qualities you should aim to develop are leadership skills and capabilities. Think rapport-building, communication and negotiation skills, as well as self-discipline, motivation and interpersonal qualities. Undoubtedly, these types of attributes will take you far in your career – especially if you aspire to become a leader.

Even if you are not pursuing a pathway in upper management, though, it still pays to develop these attributes – if only for your personal growth. Interested in learning more? Follow our guide to developing leadership skills at university. 

Learning to Lead: How Do I Develop Leadership Skills as a University Student?

When you’re completing your university studies, there will be a great deal on your plate. From mandatory class attendance to the numerous assessments and assignments that will be scattered throughout your study period, there are so many tasks you will need to juggle as a student. On top of this, you may also be professionally employed. If this is the case for you, you will also need to learn to balance your work commitments with your study workload. You might also have personal and social commitments to attend to as well. 

Despite all of these demands on your time, however, there is quite honestly no better moment to fine-tune your leadership skills than while you are studying. Committing to this can help you get a head start on your career, and put you in good stead in terms of achieving your leadership aspirations. This is especially true if you’re completing a qualification such as a Master’s in Educational Leadership. This degree is just one of many examples of the tertiary courses that are available to university students who are aspiring to become leaders in their chosen fields. 

Becoming a Leader: What Skills Do I Need to Learn?

As an aspiring leader, there is a very specific set of skills you need to acquire. Some of these leadership skills and qualities include:

Excellent Interpersonal Skills

So, what exactly are interpersonal skills? Also known as social skills or people skills, interpersonal skills refer to how we relate to other people around us. These types of qualities dictate our manner of interacting and relating to others, as well as how we communicate and build relationships. To lead effectively, individuals who are in leadership positions certainly need to be able to develop excellent interpersonal and rapport-building skills. 

Effective Communication, Negotiation, and Persuasion Capabilities 

Do you want to be able to perform as a leader? If so, you need to be able to communicate and negotiate effectively. It also helps to be persuasive, as well as having the ability to influence the opinions of others. You should also learn how to get your point across in a way that makes other people agree with your perspective. These leadership skills are central to earning the respect of your subordinates.

Staying Disciplined, Motivated and Accountable to Yourself

A good leader also possesses a good amount of self-discipline, accountability and motivation. This ties in somewhat to being an ambitious individual with lofty goals. Regardless of how ambitious you are, however, it can be challenging to get yourself to the top. And, once you get there, leadership can be lonely. 

Fortunately, as a university student, you will already be well-versed in keeping yourself motivated and disciplined This is especially true if you are an online student. When completing studying remotely, your lecturers and tutors will certainly not be breathing down your neck to ensure you complete your assignments on time. As such, you will need to be accountable to yourself and learn how to discipline and motivate yourself to study – even when you would prefer not to do so. 

While leadership skills do not come naturally to everybody, they can be of great benefit to you if you take the time to develop them. Keen to follow a career path into leadership after you graduate? If so, when would be a better time to fine-tune these leadership skills than while you study – a period of your life when you are focused on your personal development and learning? The future leader in you will thank you for it. 

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