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Student reps go ‘back to basics’ of leadership

Participants were challenged to take the leadership ‘litmus test’ by asking themselves what their values, motives and competencies were.

Students at the workshop at Wisconsin University

They are all values-based leaders. That is the kind of leadership student executives from various clubs and associations at Wisconsin International University College are being coached to become.

Through a workshop, organised by the University’s Career Services Centre and the Students Representative Council (SRC), student representatives received training on how to become a new generation of transformative leaders who lead through values rather than personal interests.

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“Africa has a leadership crisis, “said Career Services Coordinator Blessing Ngozi Dickson. “By going back to the basics at this early stage, we can perhaps influence some of tomorrow’s great leaders.”

Ms Dickson pointed out the traits that many great leaders had in common, including genuine humility, openness to learning, confidence, commitment, purpose and empowering others.

“Leaders are also change-makers. Change, no matter how small, can have a ripple or catapult effect,” she said. “It also means taking responsibility for success or failure.”

Ms Dickson added that leadership also meant having the courage to stand up and speak out on issues that mattered, and demonstrating leadership in practical ways.

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The student executives also learned about the types of leadership styles to avoid. These include: ‘Hide Behind the Wall’, ‘Say Anything But the Truth’, ‘Flash in the Pan’, ‘Pebble in My Shoe’, ‘Perks Without the Work’ and ‘D.I.Y’ leadership.

Tah Bi Irie Fulgence, president of Wisconsin’s Francophone Students Association (FSA), one of the workshop attendees, said: “The definition of leadership that was given really pleased me – leadership is the process through which leaders inspire and work, and others follow.

“In Africa, leaders sit in the comfort of their air-conditioned offices and don’t know what is going on in their communities. That’s why things are not going so well – they are not affected by what is going on out there.”

Tah Bi added that he had also learned about the importance of personal branding - how one dresses, talks and conducts oneself points to the kind leader they are.

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The FSA leader said he had already put some of the leadership tips into action by reviving the Association and making sure that students from all Francophone countries were represented on the executive committee in order to foster unity and better participation among Francophone students.

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