Selecting Student Leaders
by Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser
Student leaders are no longer a luxury in our educational world, but rather a necessity, particularly in the field of performance. Any successful ensemble/team is made up of a strong director and a group of responsible and committed student leaders. We count on these extraordinary young people to offer their time and energy in the ongoing growth and development of our programs; without them, much of the work will simply not get done.
Students are usually "eager" to assume the leadership roles, but are they "capable" of assuming the responsibilities that accompany the real world? Do they truly understand the price of leadership? The selection process cannot be taken lightly; for the student leaders will often determine the attitude, the atmosphere, and the level-of-achievement for the entire organization.
So many factors enter into this important choice. Are the candidates competent? Are they emotionally secure? Will they assume a leadership posture both in and out of the rehearsal environment? Can they handle stress and pressure? Are they willing to make decisions that are not self-serving, but for the benefit of their followers? Do they accept criticism and learn from their mistakes? Are they selfish or are they selfless? Ultimately, will they serve as positive role models for every member of the group? These are not easy questions to answer, but they are crucial, for it is unfair to everyone to assign leadership responsibilities to someone who hasn't developed to the level of maturity needed to assume the added work that defines the position itself.
Over the years of teaching the skills and techniques of student leadership I have observed so many students who are confident in their abilities and certain they can "do the job" and do it quite well; however they have difficulty when it comes to turning hopes and visions in to reality. The results are devastating to their followers, the program, and the perceived self-worth of the leader him/herself. Everyone loses. How can we avoid this dilemma?
In our urgency to have our students become more responsible and productive (perhaps these are one in the same), we are constantly looking for those opportunities-of-growth that will allow them to experience the pathway-to-success. After all, our fundamental mission as educators is to prepare them for rigors of adulthood. It is exciting and personally gratifying when we see them rise-to-the-occasion, but the penalty-of-failure has a high price-tag in terms of the emotional damage to the student's self-concept. Unlike many other aspects of education, failure in student leadership means others are at-the-effect of the incompletion. If a student leader falls short, so do all those who are following this individual; and the consequences can range from outward hostility to exclusion from the group. In extreme cases the wounded student leaders will make a decision to never be put in a similar set of circumstances where he/she will be subject to such personal pain. They choose to side-step any leadership responsibilities in the future.
Metaphorically, we do not pick a vegetable from a garden until it is ripe, for it will be of no value to anyone...and it is impossible to place it back on the mother-plant if we do prematurely remove it. Likewise a student leader who is not ready (not ripe) will be incapable of surviving the pressure and stress of leadership if he/she has not grown to the necessary stage of leadership maturity and understanding. There is an art to the selection process and veteran educators are careful to find the students who are:
SELFLESS
Watch for the students who are always taking the time to help those around them. You will quickly identify this important trait, "consideration-for-others," by simply observing their behavior before and after rehearsals.PERSISTENT
Tenacity is an attribute necessary in attaining excellence. Many people will begin a new endeavor with a sense of positive enthusiasm, but you are interested in the students who "complete" their assigned responsibilities. We are not measured by what we begin, but what we complete.CONSISTENT
Most student leaders are at a time in their lives when they are establishing their personal habits and their life-values; they are truly deciding "who they are." Dreams, goals and desires can shift radically from one day to the next. Pinpoint the student who is predictable and demonstrates emotional stability.AFFABLE
It is often tempting to favor the student leader who is a gifted musician, and this is certainly an important aspect of his/her qualifications, however if it vital for the student leader to have a healthy rapport with the other members of the organization. Popularity aside, the chosen student leader must be recognized and respected by the majority of the group.HONEST
Slighting-the-truth is commonplace. The student who avoids the temptation to exaggerate and is willing to accept the consequences that often accompany honesty is a rare commodity. Everyone will benefit from being in the presence of a person who demonstrates such integrity.FAITHFUL-LOYAL
"United we stand, divided we fall." This well-worn phrase is still classic advice for every ensemble. The students who are always tried-and-true are your best nominees for student leadership positions. At this stage of leadership, commitment-to -the-group is mandatory and any disagreements or issues should be dealt with behind closed doors an in strict confidentiality.
These six personality traits are only a starting point; however they will establish a strong foundation for the selection-qualifications of any student leader. We, as educators, must be sensitive to the overwhelming effects student leadership can have on the development of the individual. We are in a position to help our students create a sense-of-self-worth that will serve them throughout their lives. We can guide their efforts and energies to ensure a positive experience for all concerned. As their leaders we have an immeasurable influence on their leadership for life.
Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser is the Educational Director for Festivals of Music. He also serves as Director of Education for the Conn-Selmer Company and is the national spokesperson for MENC's "Make a Difference with Music".
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