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Being an officer of your organization is an awesome responsibility. The right leader can move a group to new and impressive places, while a bad leader can cause a group to stall, or even fail completely. As we approach officer election season, make sure that you are running for the right reasons.
Five good reasons to run for office:
1. Because you really love your group, and you'd love to move the organization forward by devoting time and energy to its improvement. You are deeply committed to the mission of your group, and you know that you could motivate your group closer to act in ways that brings it closer to success.
2. Because there are some problems in your organization that need fixing and you are ready to commit the time, sweat, and tears necessary to lead your group away from problems and toward solutions. You know that you cannot do it alone, and you know there might be some really stupid drama, but you are ready to pull people together to find the answers as a group. You want to lead this team. You are ready and willing to challenge your members and hold everyone accountable to higher standards.
3. Because you believe that you can role model for younger members of your group by showing them a high level of commitment, thoughtfulness, and hard work. You've learned a lot over the last couple of years, and you realize that being an officer means that you work for your members -- that you are their servant leader. You see how your service can make a difference.
4. Because you see how your talents and strengths make sense for the organization at this time in its history. Because the organization needs a certain kind of leadership, and you're willing to provide that kind of leadership. You expect it to be tough sometimes, but you're willing to make the sacrifice of personal time to move the group forward.
5. Because leading this organization would be fun. Because you can see how the challenges of leadership would make you a better person, and you have a desire to grow as a person and as a leader through the experience.
Ten reasons not to run:
1. Because no one else wants to do it, or will do a decent job, so you feel like you have to.
2. Because it will look good on a resume.
3. Because your friends expect you to.
4. Because you think you'll win.
5. Because you feel like you deserve it.
6. Because, as president, you get to go to a leadership conference out of state.
7. Because you are trying to impress someone.
8. Because you get to be in charge and tell people what to do.
9. Because someone nominated you, and you thought, "Sure, what the hell?"
10. Because you hate the person who might win otherwise.
