“In the ten years that separated the first edition of The Student Leadership Challenge and this one, a lot has changed in our world. Numerous world leaders have also changed. Some for the better. What haven't changed are the fundamentals of leadership. Neither has the dream of young leaders around the world to make a difference. In fact today more than ever, we need young leaders to step up. The Student Leadership Challenge, Third Edition draws on the inspirational stories of young leaders who have made an impact in their communities in recent times and lays out very practical leadership lessons and commitments that will help any youth in their own journey of leadership. If there is ever a guide that young people can have in their leadership journey of making this world a better place, this book would be it! Read it, Live it, and Lead.”
—Martin Tan, executive director, Institute for Societal Leadership, Singapore Management University
* * *
“Reading this book will inspire students to be their best selves as leaders and empower students with the knowledge of The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership. For educators, The Student Leadership Challenge has superb resources for teaching leadership through assessments, case studies, experiential learning activities, and reflective assignments that are based upon research and tailored for a student audience.”
—Lynn Perry Wooten, PhD, dean, Dyson School of Applied Economics & Management, Cornell University
* * *
“At HKUST we have been using The Student Leadership Challenge framework in our leadership development programs since 2011. With the personal-best narratives of students from all over the globe, our students easily grasp and apply The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership in their individual contexts. The reflective exercises at the end of each chapter are exceptionally helpful guides for deeper learning, and the Student Leadership Practices Inventory (SLPI) allows students to get 360 feedbacks to plan their development path. The Student Leadership Challenge is a highly versatile resource for students to use in their leadership journeys and for practitioners to integrate into their educational programs.”
—Helen HF Wong, associate director of student affairs (Co-Curricular Programs), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
* * *
“The Student Leadership Challenge is by far the book of choice for students and for teachers educating the next generation of leaders. In my leadership course at UC Berkeley I refer to Kouzes and Posner's book as ‘our bible,’ as it lays out both a philosophy of leadership and the steps to implement it. Reading it while utilizing the Student Leadership Practices Inventory (the book weaves them together) will help you gauge how you lead and how you can take practical steps to improve your leadership.”
—Dan Mulhern, lecturer at the schools of Business, Law, and Public Policy, UC Berkeley, and author, Everyday Leadership: Getting Results in Business, Politics, and Life
* * *
“At a time when young people are bombarded with inconsistent and confusing messages about what constitutes effective, committed leadership, along comes the third edition of The Student Leadership Challenge. As in their previous works, Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner present young people with the crucial elements of exemplary leadership. Young people want to shape their world right now. What they need to move from commitment to action are proven methods to uncover the leader within and tools to put their leadership into practice. This book will offer an important first step in that journey.”
—Cathy Tisdale, president and CEO, Camp Fire
* * *
“We utilize The Student Leadership Challenge as a foundation for our campus leadership platform, and it continues to provide guidance and support for leaders with all levels of experience. It is easy enough for new leaders to engage with, and yet sophisticated enough to take experienced leaders to the next level. The third edition has new examples for the practices and commitments. We find that all students can connect with The Five Practices, the Ten Commitments, and the new cases that provide real-life leadership examples. As we continue to implement our collaborative leadership model on our campus, this edition is a good refresher for those who are trained facilitators.”
—Matt Baker EdD, vice president of student affairs, Northwest Missouri State University
* * *
“The third edition of The Student Leadership Challenge has it all. Leadership stories from students who've implemented the practices. Workbook elements that allow reflection of the material and action planning. The Student Leadership Practices Inventory that offers students a reliable assessment of how they are currently performing as leaders. Tried and true leadership practices backed by thirty years of research. This is the one book to have in your library to develop and sustain student leadership.”
—Kevin W. Bailey, PhD, vice chancellor for student affairs, UNC Charlotte
* * *
“With a conversational tone and an interactive approach, Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner convey The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership to students in a way that is both relatable and inspiring. The Student Leadership Challenge retains all the sophistication and credibility of their original text and brings the material alive with examples of college-aged leaders from around the world. Even after more than ten years working with this material, I found this new edition to be full of new insights, examples, and applications.”
—Miles Ashlock, assistant dean and director, Office of Student Life, University of California, Santa Barbara
* * *
“I use The Student Leadership Challenge as the foundation of the Blue Hen Leadership Program because it ties leadership directly to values-based action. This new edition reaffirms that The Five Exemplary Practices of Exemplary Leadership are hugely applicable to the student experience. Through new case studies and tools for practical application, students will see themselves in the stories shared, and easily understand that leadership is an option to anyone who uses these five practices to create positive change.”
—Susan Luchey, associate director for student leadership development, University of Delaware, and board of directors, Association of Leadership Educators
* * *
“The Student Leadership Challenge is the best leadership guidebook for college students available today. The third edition is especially relevant and applicable to helping college students overcome leadership challenges they face in the ever-changing landscape of higher education. This book is a comprehensive manual for students on how to practice the leadership behaviors needed to get extraordinary things done with others and for others. Employers will want every college graduate they hire to have read The Student Leadership Challenge.”
—Shannon Cleverley-Thompson, EdD, visiting assistant professor of executive leadership, St. John Fisher College
* * *
“The evidence-based leadership practices empirically identified and expertly described by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner advance and elevate the field of leadership education towards deliberate practices. The Student Leadership Challenge gives emerging leaders a detailed roadmap for feedback, self-reflection, and application of leadership practices that contribute to human flourishing and performance. The five leadership practices are empirically supported, replicable, and integral to all academic disciplines preparing students for careers.”
—Adrian Popa, PhD, chair, Department of Organizational Leadership, Gonzaga University
* * *
“The University of Tennessee at Martin is striving to develop a student leadership development model that is integrated into the policies, practices, and culture of student life. The Student Leadership Challenge is a key component of this effort. The research behind The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership and their related behaviors sells the curriculum to students, administrators, and faculty. Most significantly the 360 Leadership Practices Inventory is the unique component that opens students' eyes to where they can improve the frequency of their leadership behaviors. Furthermore, the very thorough 360 LPI Feedback Report becomes their guide for developing a specific action plan to increase the frequency of those behaviors outside their comfort or awareness zone.”
—Phil Dane, coordinator of student leadership development, The University of Tennessee at Martin
* * *
“The third edition of The Student Leadership Challenge is replete with intense and action-oriented stories and examples of how young leaders around the world are making a difference. This book is about ‘doing leadership,’ not just learning about leadership. It is a call to action, and I guarantee if you apply The Five Practices described in this book, you will make a difference in your world on a daily basis.”
—Gary M. Morgan, founder/CEO, Student Leadership Excellence Academy
* * *
“If students were to ask me for the one book that clearly and inspiringly demonstrates how to maximize their leadership potential, The Student Leadership Challenge is the first book I would recommend. It is the ‘Bible’ of leadership for all aspiring leaders. Students reading this book will quickly understand that following The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership described in vivid detail in this book will help them maximize their leadership effectiveness. Most importantly, students reading this book will realize they already have the power to lead, and they have an obligation to lead. That's what makes The Student Leadership Challenge so powerful and definitely a book worthy of being the first leadership book in your library.”
—Jody Rogers, PhD, FACHE, visiting professor, Department of Healthcare Administration, Trinity University
* * *
“With so much going on in our world, this guide is ever-important in helping us to create the much-needed leaders that are required on campuses and in our communities. Practical, filled with rich examples, and an important call to action, Kouzes and Posner unlock the daily practices to liberate the exemplary leader within us all.”
—Victor K. Wilson, vice president for student affairs, The University of Georgia
* * *
“In working over the years with first-generation students pursuing a career in medicine, I have come to rely on the leadership principles found in The Student Leadership Challenge. Based on solid research, this book is an essential guide to students in discovering the leader within. Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner's leadership insights truly inspire the hearts of those seeking to lead others in making a meaningful and positive change in their organizations, communities, and world. I highly recommend this book to all emerging leaders!”
—Mark Gutierrez, assistant director, Center of Excellence in Diversity in Medical Education, Stanford School of Medicine
* * *
“The Student Leadership Challenge will enable you to make a difference in the world. On a daily basis, we all have opportunities to work within our circles of influence. The Five Practices make the prospect of leadership within these circles more concrete and tangible. The Ten Commitments equip you to direct your energy and take positive action. These are behaviors you can develop and practices you can foster in yourself and others. Regardless of your future career path, this book will show you how to build your leadership skills and fulfill your calling to contribute to the greater good.”
—Kristin Kari Janke, PhD, professor, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, and director, Wulling Center for Innovation & Scholarship in Pharmacy Education
* * *
“The third edition of The Student Leadership Challenge provides a practical, tangible, real-life leadership development read for young leaders. This new work is inspiring and real. The stories included in this edition will enable the reader to see themselves as leaders who have utilized The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership in their everyday lives. The ‘Reflect and Act’ component added to every chapter is excellent and provides specific action steps for student leaders to enhance their leadership practice. Acknowledging the role of reflection throughout enables self-awareness and meaning making, which are critical to the leadership development process.”
—Katie G. Burke, assistant dean, Weppner Center for LEAD & Service-Learning, Florida Atlantic University
* * *
“Practical, inspiring, down to earth. The stories of everyday student leaders make the concept of leadership accessible to everyone, especially those who think they are not leaders. Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner's research on the impact of leadership behaviors gives profound yet practical insight on how students can become better leaders. The Student Leadership Challenge will cause young readers to deeply reflect about what they want their student life to count for and how they will do something about issues that matter to them. This book is a must-read for every student or adult who works with students.”
—Sean Kong, chief training officer, Halogen Foundation, Singapore
Third Edition
Copyright © 2018 by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner. All rights reserved.
Published by The Leadership Challenge™
A Wiley Brand
One Montgomery Street, Suite 1000, San Francisco, CA 94104-4594
www.leadershipchallenge.com
Cover design by Wiley
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, 978-750-8400, fax 978-646-8600, or on the Web at www.copyright.com. Requests to the publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, 201-748-6011, fax 201-748-6008, or online at www.wiley.com/go/permissions.
Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages. Readers should be aware that Internet Web sites offered as citations and/or sources for further information may have changed or disappeared between the time this was written and when it is read.
For additional copies or bulk purchases of this book please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at 800-762-2974, outside the U.S. at (317) 572-3993, or fax (317) 572-4002. To learn more about the Student Leadership Challenge or the Student LPI please contact us at leadership@wiley.com.
Wiley publishes in a variety of print and electronic formats and by print-on-demand. Some material included with standard print versions of this book may not be included in e-books or in print-on-demand. If this book refers to media such as a CD or DVD that is not included in the version you purchased, you may download this material at http://booksupport.wiley.com. For more information about Wiley products, visit www.wiley.com.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data are available
ISBN 978-1-119-42191-7 (paper); ISBN 978-1-119-42224-2 (ebk.); ISBN 978-1-119-42225-9 (ebk.)
Cover design by Wiley
If you purchased a new electronic copy of this book, you are eligible to receive one single-use access code for the Student Leadership Practices Inventory Self Online assessment. Follow these instructions to retrieve your code:
The Student Leadership Practices Inventory (Student LPI®) is the cornerstone of The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership® model. Created by leadership educators James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner, this powerful leadership development model approaches leadership as a measurable, learnable, and teachable set of behaviors, because every-one can be a leader–whether in a designated leadership role or not. The Student LPI offers you a method for accurately assessing your leadership skills based on The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership, by measuring the frequency with which you engage in 30 behaviors that research shows lead to the best leadership outcomes.
The Student Leadership Challenge is about how young leaders—people just like you—mobilize others to make extraordinary things happen anywhere, from a classroom, residence hall, Greek chapter, club, community service project, and student government, to the entire campus, neighboring community, and even the state and nation. It's about the practices student leaders use every day to get people moving toward a better future. They use these practices to transform values into actions, visions into realities, obstacles into innovations, separateness into solidarity, and risks into rewards. Leadership is what turns challenging opportunities into remarkable successes.
This third edition of The Student Leadership Challenge comes out ten years after the publication of the first. Since then, we have continued to research, consult, teach, and learn about what young leaders do and how anyone, regardless of age, can become a better leader. We're honored by the reception we've received in the education marketplace and by hearing that students, educators, and practitioners continue to find that The Student Leadership Challenge is conceptually and practically useful.
The foundation for The Student Leadership Challenge has stood the test of time. We continue to ask the same question that started our inquiry into exemplary leadership: What did you do when you were at your personal best as a leader?
One of the most common yet profound realizations from the answers to this question is that leadership is an identifiable set of skills and abilities that are available to anyone, no matter their age or position. As one student explained: “Growing up, I assumed leaders had certain traits and qualities that I didn't seem to have. I thought there were ‘natural' leaders who were born to lead. I thought leadership was the description of what these people did. When you asked me to describe my personal-best leadership experience, I found to my surprise that I had those leadership abilities myself.” Another student said that she learned “that anybody can be a leader. I had never considered myself a leader, but when I was needed to step up and deal with a difficult situation, I was able to find the leader within me and do so.”
We've talked to thousands of young men and women, representing many educational institutions and youth organizations around the world. Their stories, and the behaviors and actions they've described, combined with examples from thousands of other leaders, validate The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership framework. When students do their best as a leader, they Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart. These are the practices that you can use to become a more effective leader and that we describe in detail in this book.
The Student Leadership Challenge is evidence based. We derived The Five Practices from research, and we illustrate them with examples from actual student leaders doing real things. In this third edition, we provide new stories, cases, examples, and illustrations of exactly what young people like you do when they are at their leadership best. The concepts are presented in a way that allows you to focus on applying what works. Also, with this latest edition, you have the opportunity to more closely link how you see yourself behaving as a leader, through completing the Student Leadership Practices Inventory, and reflecting on practical ideas for how you can take action. Our intention is to help you discover new ways to be the best leader you can be.
The more we research and write about leadership, the more confident we become that leadership is within the grasp of everyone and that opportunities for leadership are everywhere. No matter what your experience is as a leader, we know that you have the capacity to lead if you choose to. Leadership is not about a position or title, as many young people presume. It is about the choices you make throughout your life—with the goal of making the situations and places you find better because you were there. Great leadership is not about making the leader look good but about how individuals use leadership in service to others to make the people and groups around them better.
In reading this book, you will get a deep understanding of The Five Practices and what they look like in action. By using The Five Practices in your life, you will continue to grow, develop yourself as an exemplary leader, and make a positive difference. You are in a stage of life where the opportunities to make a difference are all around you: in your classes, youth groups, clubs, organizations, athletics, schools, and community. As you take advantage of these opportunities to learn and lead, others will begin to take note and look to you to help them figure out how they can develop their own leadership skills.
You don't just owe it to yourself to become the best leader you can be. You have a responsibility to others as well. You may not yet know it, but people all around you need you to do your best and be your best.
How do you get other people to want to follow you? How do you get other people, by free will and free choice, to move forward together in a common purpose? How do you get people energized to work hard together to get something done that everyone can feel proud of? These are the important questions we address in The Student Leadership Challenge. Think of this book as a guide to take along on your leadership journey. Think of it as a manual you can consult when you want advice and guidance on how to get extraordinary things done with others. Think of it as a place to go when you're not sure what to do as a leader.
In the Introduction we describe our leadership framework by sharing a personal-best leadership experience case study about how one leader acted on her values and pursued a path of commitment and action to make a difference in gender equality education. We provide an overview of The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership, summarizing the findings about what student leaders do when they are at their best, and show how these actions make a difference. A major benefit of accepting and adopting this framework of leadership is that it isn't difficult to understand, and it doesn't cost any money or require anybody else's permission. It just requires a commitment from you and ongoing practice to make these leadership behaviors habits in your life.
The ten chapters that follow describe the Ten Commitments of Leadership—the essential behaviors—that leaders use to get extraordinary things done. Here we explain the fundamental principles that support each of The Five Practices and offer interactive worksheets for you to reflect on the state of your skills and behaviors in each leadership practice and identify abilities that you can strengthen and improve. Each of these chapters ends with an invitation to reflect on what you learned from reading it and to decide how you will put your learning into action.
In the final chapter, we offer a call to action to accept personal responsibility for being a role model for exemplary leadership and making these leadership practices part of your daily routines, in all aspects of your life. The first place to look for leadership is within you. Accepting the leadership challenge requires practice, reflection, humility, and making the most of every opportunity to make a difference. We'll assert that leadership is not an affair of the head. Leadership is an affair of the heart. In this Afterword you'll see what we mean by this claim and how it applies to you.
We recommend that you first read Chapter 1, but after that there is no prescribed order to proceeding through the rest of this book. Go wherever your interests are. We wrote The Student Leadership Challenge to support you in your leadership development. Just remember that each practice is essential. Although you might bounce around in the book, you can't skip understanding and practicing any of these fundamentals of leadership.
This book will contribute to the success you have working with others, to the creation of new ideas and enterprises, to the renewal of healthy schools and prosperous communities, and to greater respect and understanding in the world. We also fervently hope that it enriches your life.
Meeting the leadership challenge is a personal—and daily—challenge for everyone. We know that if you have the will and the way to lead, you can. You must supply the will. We'll do our best to keep supplying the way.
James Kouzes
Orinda, California
Barry Posner
Berkeley, California
Leadership is the art of mobilizing others to want to struggle for shared aspirations.
Leadership as defined by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner