In Collegiate DECA, the impact of our members goes well beyond our chapters. Servant leadership is a leadership style where the leader's primary goal is to serve the communities and organizations they lead. This aligns perfectly with DECA's mission to prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs to be college and career-ready.
By adopting servant leadership principles and emphasizing the importance of giving back to the community, DECA members can strengthen their means of personal and professional growth, collaborate on stronger leadership teams, and maintain more inclusive communities.
Here are some ways you can apply servant leadership to your leadership experiences in DECA:
Individual Level
At the individual level, servant leadership has many benefits. Firstly, it showcases important leadership skills in today's workplace, such as effective communication, time management, decision-making, and teamwork abilities. As an effective servant leader, you will utilize these qualities daily.
This also allows you to improve the dynamics within your leadership team. Focusing on those you serve allows for a very collaborative team environment, which will increase the harmony of your team because you are all comfortable with approaching each other and discussing events, plans or conflicts.
Further, adopting this leadership style allows your chapter to have a larger effect on its community by immersing itself in it and tackling community service projects head-on. Not only does this help those around you, but it also brings an important sense of fulfillment to each of your chapter's members.
Chapter Level
Another way to use this leadership style is directly within your leadership teams. This includes active listening, assisting members with professional growth and development and showcasing responsibility.
You can encourage active listening in meetings by providing multiple areas for member input or asking members for their experience about a certain topic mentioned in the meeting. In guest speaker meetings, you can encourage this by reminding participants of the importance of active listening and asking follow-up questions.
You can promote professional growth and development by offering a mentorship program, which is also a great time for resume reviews, active listening and networking.
Further, you may promote responsibility within your leadership team by sharing all chapter materials with each executive board member. This encourages responsibility and increases efficiency by allowing them to answer any questions they may have more effectively, or members may ask them.
Community Level
Lastly, your DECA chapter can showcase servant leadership by participating in or organizing community service initiatives. This could include volunteer initiatives such as park cleanups or food drives, and you may choose to have a community service event within another event.
You can also use this to build partnerships with local businesses, schools or nonprofits in your area. By establishing these partnerships, you are not only having a positive impact outside your chapter but can effectively have the message about your chapter reach new potential members. You may also keep data on these partnerships and initiatives for further recruitment efforts.
Embracing servant leadership and prioritizing community service has a positive impact on your DECA chapter in many ways. This includes the individual, chapter and outside community levels.
Engaging your chapter in community service projects or initiatives helps those around your local community and brings a sense of purpose and fulfillment to your chapter and its members. Building strong partnerships with local organizations and showcasing your chapter's impact can also attract new members and resources.
Integrating these principles into your leadership practices ensures that your chapter makes a meaningful difference in the community and beyond.
