We work with a lot of leadership teams and countless driven and passionate young people who want to make a difference and achieve some goals. But we also know that the ability to follow through with a project, after the initial hype, is sometimes really difficult!
Here are some factors we have seen really make the difference between dream and reality!
Begin with the end in mind
When you complete your goal or role as a leader, what will your surroundings look like? What will have changed?
The best leaders and the most successful projects know exactly what they’re working towards. They have a clear vision of what the end result will be, of what they’re trying to achieve. This vision needs to be clear enough to hold in your mind as you walk towards it.
Keep it simple
We can all dream crazy ideas and have giant visions- which is awesome! But it’s also so fulfilling and important to make those dreams a reality!
We see so many students dream big, but then the busy business of school, assignments, hobbies, friends, and more catches up to them, and these ideas never make it off the ground.
It’s better to plan something small and have it actually happen than something big that never does. Keep your ideas simple, and you can make them bigger next time!
Map out the steps
Another way to make sure your project or dream actually happens is to get practical with what actually needs to happen. Map out the steps from beginning to end, including all the small details.
Like a treasure map, plotting out each point shows you exactly how you will get from A to B. It will reveal exactly what needs to be done and create clarity.
Allocate and delegate
One of the biggest lessons we can learn as leaders are how to delegate and hold ourselves and others accountable.
Sharing the load increases the likelihood of success!
Set an end date
Deadlines mean accountability. When you’re planning, set a fixed end date. Then put deadlines next to every step. Then you’ll know how long something is going to take, and you’ll have a realistic and detailed plan for each step of the way.
Looking for actionable ways to get your student projects off the ground?
We love working with students to help them become better leaders of themselves and others! We’ve worked with thousands of students on projects they want to achieve in their schools and communities. If you want to give your young person a chance to improve their leadership, check out our easily-accessible, online leadership courses here.
