Leadership

Using self-motivation to direct a project or team to achieve a particular outcome or goal. Meeting the needs of the group through emotional bonds and harmony. Developing skills and knowledge in individuals and teams and building consensus through participation.

Suggested activities

  • Joining a student club/org in your first year with the goal of taking on a leadership role in future years.
  • Taking the lead on a semester-long group project.
  • Supervising/training peers in your part-time job on or off campus.
  • Starting a brand new student club/org on campus.
  • Working in campus roles such as teaching assistant, learning assistant, campus tour guide or resident assistant.

Rate where you are on this skill

Basic Intermediate Advanced Expert
Basic

Basic

You understand that leadership is the process of organizing and guiding individuals to achieve an overarching goal by assigning and ensuring completion of tasks.

What this skill looks like in action:

  • Study this skill in a class or training.

Intermediate

At this level, it is appropriate to include this skill on your resume.

You actively engage in leading others. This could look like any of the following: delegating tasks to classmates in a group project; directing band members as drum major; motivating your intramural sports team to victory; developing first-year residents as a resident assistant; supervising peers in a part-time job, internship or volunteer role to ensure completion of tasks to a high standard.

What this skill looks like in action:

  • Plan, initiate, manage, complete and evaluate projects.
  • Motivate and inspire others.
  • Facilitate meetings or practices.
  • Set clear expectations.
  • Delegate with respect.

Advanced

You have dedicated many hours to working in multiple leadership roles and in a variety of environments, including a work setting. People value you as a leader because you motivate others and achieve positive results. Your inspiring vision, respect for others and ability to delegate allow you to leverage the unique strengths of individuals from all backgrounds to accomplish a shared goal.

What this skill looks like in action:

  • Inspire and articulate a shared vision.
  • Serve as a role model to others by approaching tasks with confidence and a positive attitude.
  • Leverage and cultivate the strengths of others.
  • Empower others.
  • Share credit where it’s deserved.
  • Network with other leaders to exchange ideas; attend leadership conferences.

Expert

You have committed hundreds of hours to working in leadership roles, studying leadership theories and collaborating with other leadership experts. People look to you to teach them about leadership.

What this skill looks like in action:

  • Continue to learn about this skill through graduate studies or apply it in more advanced and complex work situations.
  • Demonstrate that you know when to lead and when to follow.
  • Create inclusive work environments by inviting and utilizing diverse perspectives and resources.
  • Create and educate others on new frameworks for innovative and effective leadership.