Leadership Training
Feb 12 2019
Words Associated with leadership
- Responsible, Reliable, Resourceful, Consistent
- Fair, Patient, Adaptable, Educating
- Compassionate, Tolerant, Adaptable, Self-Aware
- Committed, Inclusive, Democratic, Integral
What do you Locals to be? What does Locals mean to you?
To be pen pals, or something similar with another locals program
Comforting, facilitating
First year focused
A lively happening space that has a constant flow of first years that are always supported
A chill place for all first years to hang out comfortably
Inclusive, safe space, communal area
Place for personal development
Opportunities
Community oriented
Diverse
A place for safe political discussion
Popular by word of mouth among first year Locals
Recognized by other halls
Place of growth and self discovery
Fostering Friendship
Inclusive, fun, friendly place
Good budget, less burping, clean
Exciting, open space
Finding great friends
Ultimate Goals for Locals
To be paid like the college RAs
To have more of a budget to help retain students
More support with students for budgeting and flatting
Hogwarts common room
Payment / funding for better opportunities
A safe space
Tolerance is key
Welcoming and helpful
Invigorating
We should be nice to the first years and not harass them about their first year being free
Growth
Win intercollege awards more than just once
Fully Funded
Fully Funded (again)
Everyone is welcome happy, and walks away having had the best possible year
A great support system that goes beyond HQ
Challenge first years to challenge themselves and their beliefs to grow as people
To create an inclusive space
To create a fun comforting and welcoming space
More strawberry, less lemon
Entice a bigger and consistent group to be part of events and HQ
Diverse, inclusive, be popular among locals first year students, accepting of everyone, more supportive
Quieter than last year
More about the fresher experience, and less about what leaders want to do
Cater to all who come, ensure all to come feel included and want to stay
To help first years not feel so alone in their first year experience (supported and encouraged)
Challenge we could face this year?
Not allowing our friendship group to overwhelm the first years and not allowing personal vendettas to get in the way of first years
Maya recommended using “Me with Boss hat” and “Me with friend hat” to help separate concerns
If we could try not to bring personal drama into HQ then that would be lovely
Working with the new leaders - it’s important that we are all talking to each other and working together. Must be accepting of new ideas and open to new ways of doing things.
Prioritising the first years over the friend groups that were created last year
Not isolating the first years with our own friendship groups
Not feeling protective over the space when the first years come in. First years must be able to claim the space as their own
Balancing professional and non professional relationships
Ensuring that professional distance is maintained - know when to step back from being a friend and take on a professional role
Uniflats: the kiwi hosts know what is going on and can tell the staff. We can play the role of spies.
Know what your boundaries are and maintain them e.g. adding first years on facebook
Recommended not to add first years on facebook, don’t accept requests. Snapchat could be particularly dangerous.
Understanding social and cultural differences between students e.g. interests and backgrounds and respecting opinions
When to be a leader and when to ask for help. e.g. Dealing with something on your own v.s. elevating to Maya. Self awareness
Identifying guilty first years - students that are breaking the code of conduct
Ten seconds of courage - some things may be scary but all you need is ten seconds and then you are doing it
Supporting first years mental health could be challenging
We are not counsellors though. We are not expected to be able to fix them. We need to be able to point students to support services
Telling students where students are able to get better support
Crushes. Don’t prey on the first years. Don’t go fresher fishing.
If you fall in love with one of the first years then tell Maya or Dazzy - it will avoid issues down the road
Maintaining a democratic mindset within the committees and making sure people are supporting one another
Not promoting the party life
If you hear people talking about taking drugs then slide into the conversation and make sure students are aware of safety. Talk to students about safety. If something gets dangerous then let Maya know so that she is able to refer them to Mental Health. If you don’t believe that students can take drugs in a safe environment then don’t engage them.
Earning the trust of first years
Be friendly and helpful and smiling. Don’t tell them off for everything. Think about the leaders you trusted last year and try to emulate that.
Learning people names
Relying on memory to manage events and your life. Write everything down instead.
Personality clashes
Don’t over commit yourself to locals. We are all students first and foremost.
We are all able to delegate within in the team.
All being able to work together when we all have outside pressure and commitments
This can be covered with full team meetings to clear the air and get everyone on the same page
Initial interactions and first impressions
Be yourself - if they don’t like you then screw them (figuratively)
Being able to be a charismatic person
It’s not a problem if you don’t connect with the first years. It’s not a problem if you do.
Be welcoming and friendly throughout the year - students are coming through all year
Finding it challenging to talk to the first years
Ten seconds of courage. They are also scared
Appealing to a wide diverse groups of first years
Dealing with conflict and not taking sides
We are allowed to have a side, try not to let them know
Staying calm and impartial in heated scenarios
It’s okay to walk away in these situations. Remove yourself from the situation if you have to.
Dealing with drama with the first years and groups
We can elevate this to Maya and Dazzy for advice or intervention
Presenting myself as a person who is open and people can come to for support
Scenarios
Greetings
Personal: Would often swear with friends. Leaders: Much more reserved while still friendly. Personal: Sarcastic Leader: Not sarcastic
Someone adds us on facebook
Tell students in person that we are not able to add them on facebook.
A student hits on you
Shut them down.
You see a drunk first year in town
Check to see if they are safe. If they are on the sidewalk vomiting then make sure they are safe. Obligation to help - if something happens then you could have intervened. We can’t be bystanders. Campus watch is available to help - if it is urgent then they will go anywhere. We are not responsible to picking students up if they get in touch.
At a friends party and there are a group of first year students there
Hold the funnel for them. You have a choice: Stay or leave. Keep in mind that first years will exaggerate anything that happens.
If first years show up to your own party
Politely ask them to leave if they are not invited. If a first year friend brings their friends then it is a judgement call.
You show up at a party that is just first years
Just leave.