Leadership as a Practice

Right now, UTS students are undertaking the important task of selecting next year’s School Captains. Listening to our hopeful candidates put forward their ideas and vision, I am reminded of a quote by Sheryl Sandberg about what it means to lead: “Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence, and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.” 

Impactful leadership is not about who’s in charge or who gives the orders. It’s certainly not about a title or building a resumé. It’s about modelling what’s right, encouraging and supporting others, and doing so with consideration, intelligence and grace. Leadership with impact can strengthen a community, foster a collective sense of belonging and inspire younger students who will themselves one day lead.

When I think of an ideal leader at UTS, I think of students who demonstrate integrity, courage, compassion and resilience. And as if that isn’t already a high enough bar, I also think of students who embody innumerable traits – inclusiveness, collaboration, reflection… the list goes on and on.  

You might question whether such a high standard is realistic. Is there anyone who can be all these things at every moment in time? Wouldn’t it be easier to simply say, “Hey, student leaders. Just relax. Have fun and enjoy”? The simple answer is yes, it would be easier. And yes, it is unrealistic to expect what is, for all intents and purposes, perfection. No one can be all these things all the time. None of us is perfect. We are all human and fallible. So why throw down the gauntlet and challenge our students to achieve the impossible?

We sometimes hear the term “born leaders”, suggesting that leadership is something you either possess or you don’t. But that belief is the antithesis of a growth mindset, something I hope we increasingly espouse at UTS.  Leadership may come more naturally or more easily to some than to others, but I believe the seeds of leadership are embedded within each student. Our job as educators and parents is to model, teach, nurture and strengthen the leadership that is waiting within.  

As we continue to think about what we want UTS to be in the future and what we want our students to embody, I encourage us to focus on leadership as a journey rather than a destination. Let’s support our students to view leadership as a muscle to be strengthened, rather than a title to be added to a list of accomplishments. In doing so, we can build a community of exceptional learners who possess the skills to lead into the future.

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