In The Student Leadership Challenge (Jossey-Bass, 2008), authors James Kouzes and Barry Posner set out the “Five Practices of Exemplary Leaders.” They are:
- Model the Way – determine and clarify values, adhere to them, and communicate them to others in a demonstrative, rather than prescriptive way.
- Inspire a Shared Vision – communicate an image of the future, encourage others to see the possibility of that future, and highlight the communal benefits of positive change.
- Challenge the Process – be willing to take risks and experiment, to learn from failure, but commit to possibility.
- Enable Others to Act – create teams, build trust, and learn to rely on the abilities of others.
- Encourage the Heart – give positive feedback, celebrate values and victories, and encourage happiness and enthusiasm.
Each value is addressed in its own chapter of the book, after which the reader is offered prompts and writing space for reflection. The final chapter synthesizes these behaviors into the book’s overarching message: “Leadership is everyone’s business.”
The Student Leadership Challenge is populated with personal accounts, collected through interviewing, that illustrate each of the five practices. By providing real-life examples, Kouzes and Posner demonstrate that leadership is possible on any scale, in any field – from editing a school yearbook to overseeing a medical fellowship program.
While the theme of the book and the subjects of the accounts within are student leadership, the five practices explored are universal fundamentals that can build and enhance anyone’s ability to lead. We are all born students – with the ability to learn the essentials of great leadership. As Kuozes and Posner put it, “Leadership is an identifiable set of skills and abilities that are available to everyone.”
Use The Student Leadership Challenge to become the leader you want to be.
