Demonstrating Leadership by Example – Do your values match your actions?
By April Qualls, Regional Director, National Student Loan Program

Every day you have opportunities to demonstrate leadership – at home, in social settings, in your community, and in your job. But do you really understand the impact of your leadership on others, especially students looking for direction and purpose in life?

Your actions often speak louder than words. With this in mind, consider what students observe when you demonstrate your values and apply them to your daily choices. To be an effective leader, you must determine what you value. Here’s a simple exercise to help you:

• Get a package of 3x5 cards.
• Write down everything you want in life (one per card) – new car; new house; trip to Hawaii; sanity in your home; a long, healthy life. Include thoughts that seem frivolous or impossible to attain.
• Be honest!

After you make your “wish list”, eliminate less critical items. Your top three to five choices are your most important values. This process helps you use your time, money, and other valuable resources more productively.

So, how does this relate to demonstrating leadership?

Students, coworkers, and others who interact with you will follow a strong leader and role model. To be an effective leader, you must know what’s most important in your life. This goes beyond the simple exercise with the 3x5 cards. It goes straight to the heart of why you sometimes spend your time, energy, and other resources on activities and behaviors that are counterproductive to your values. Think how confusing it must be to others when you:

• say you want to be physically fit, yet you sit at home watching TV with cookies and ice cream every night
• work 10-16 hour days while proclaiming how desperately you want to go to the mountains and sit by a stream
• advocate that they only borrow what they absolutely need while you overuse your credit cards and live beyond your means

By identifying your values and living by them, you’ll demonstrate strong leadership and model behavior. These traits go a long way in changing the lives of students who are looking for direction and purpose.