5 Leadership Hacks to Help You Make an Impact

1. Always end on a Positive

I always find it easy to look at the negatives in situations.

“This didn’t work out because of ___”, “We’ll never get better because we keep doing this ____”.

But what if we learn to focus on the positives? Maybe you didn’t ace that test, but you know where you need to focus for the next one. Maybe you didn’t get that dream job you wanted, but you advanced in the interviewing process for two other jobs.

You can take this back to a team aspect, too. When one person brings negativity into the atmosphere, it’s easy for everyone to get caught up in it. Try to encourage everyone to end on a positive. If your project or plan falls through, be able to look back on the positives of the situation. Maybe some parts of the project went RIGHT and can be used on the next one, maybe you nothing went right but you learned from that project what you want to do for the next one. If you’re boat keeps taking on water, you’ll never be able to float.

2. Be Dependable

As a leader, it’s important for you to set the standard. Your team looks to you for guidance. If they see that you are slacking, they might see that as an opportunity for them to do so, as well. Make sure the goals and expectations you set on yourself can be met. For example, if you promise to email your advisor or an outside connection to an organization for something your chapter is holding, make sure you actually email the person.

It sounds easy enough, but we all understandably get busy at times and things slip our minds. Do it right when you promise to, so that the worries are taken away. Making sure you fulfill your personal goals that you’ve set shows your team that you are focused and dedicated.

3. Look to the Future

When setting your goals, it’s crucial to cut them up into smaller chunks so you don’t get overwhelmed. It also helps you reach your goals faster and keeps the energy alive.

However, you do need to look towards a larger goal in order to find your purpose as a group. What are all of your smaller projects working towards accomplishing? What do you feel like needs to be accomplished overall before the year is done?

Keeping these bigger goals in mind help with your smaller goals in regards to prioritizing and brainstorming ideas.

4. Make Deeper Connections

Having superficial connections with your team may help you accomplish your goals short term, but it will never help you reach your full potential. In order for your team to find its complete purpose, you need to create deeper, more real connections within.

One thing I love most about being a state officer is going through officer training. We are constantly learning about each other and it sets the standard for the rest of our year together. Having deeper, more real connections with my team allows me to feel more comfortable being open and honest with them. I feel comfortable to come to them when I need help coming up with a solution to an issue and I feel comfortable enough to know that if I constructively criticize something they’re doing, it won’t end our friendship.

I enjoy every minute I am with my team, because not only are we working towards achieving our goals, but we are growing together as a team and creating long lasting friendships. With the amount of work you are putting in to your organization or projects, it’s okay to take some time out to grow together as something outside of that.

5. Personalize your Approach for each Team Member

It’s vital that you realize not everyone learns or works the same way. Think about school—do all of your classmates take tests the same way? Do homework the same way? Presentations? Of course not! We’re all individuals with unique personalities and characteristics, and your team is no different! Therefore it’s not fair for you to expect Person A to a project the same way as Person B. Maybe you have to change the instructions you give by writing them down, or showing them physically.

Everyone on your team should be considered as equal importance, but you have to take in to consideration what strengths and weaknesses that they have in order to maximize their potential.