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Student leadership
When you're involved in Eta Sigma Gamma (ESG), you're not just joining a student organization, you're stepping into a space where you can grow as a leader. With support from your chapter advisor and collaboration with your fellow members, ESG student leaders build leadership skills that prepare them to make a real impact in health education, service, advocacy and research. These skills often play a big role in helping students succeed in their future careers as health educators.
Here are some of the key traits that define effective ESG leaders:
- Commitment: Great leaders are dedicated, not just to their own success, but to the mission and goals of ESG. As a student leader, your commitment to the organization inspires others and helps create a motivated, purpose-driven chapter.
- Confidence: Confidence isn't about having all the answers, it's about believing in your ability to lead, grow, and make a difference. ESG leaders are passionate about what they do and help others believe in themselves, too.
- Creativity: You don’t need to be an artistic genius to be creative. Leading a chapter means thinking outside the box especially when planning events, solving problems, or raising funds. Creative leaders also encourage others to share new ideas and approaches.
- Communication Skills: Being able to clearly share your ideas and listen to others is essential. ESG leaders communicate effectively with members, officers, and advisors, whether it’s in meetings, over email, or through social media. Strong writing skills also come in handy when preparing reports, proposals, or promotional content.
- Perseverance Working in student organizations can be challenging. Not everyone shows up or follows through. That’s why perseverance matters. Great leaders stay focused, keep things moving, and motivate others to get the job done.
- Positive Attitude: Positivity is contagious. When you bring a can-do attitude to your chapter, others are more likely to stay engaged and energized. ESG leaders set the tone by being supportive, encouraging, and solution-focused, even when things get tough.
Tapping into Hidden Leadership
As a chapter leader, you’ll take on a variety of responsibilities, but one of the smartest moves you can make is learning how to delegate effectively. Great leaders know they don’t have to do it all themselves. Instead, they spot potential in others and help bring it out.
Every chapter has members who’ve gained experience through clubs, sports, volunteer work, or student organizations in high school, college, or their communities. Some of these members may not immediately step up to lead. They might be quieter or seem less involved at first. These are often your “silent leaders;" people with strong potential who just need a little encouragement to shine.
It’s part of your role to recognize these individuals and help them build confidence by giving them meaningful responsibilities. Sometimes, simply letting someone know you believe in their ability to lead can be the push they need to get more engaged.
Consider having your executive team (officers and faculty advisor) take a moment to identify potential silent leaders in your chapter. Once you’ve pinpointed a few, match them with a project, event, or committee that fits their strengths or interests. Then, personally invite them to take on the role, offering your support and guidance along the way.
By involving more members in leadership, you’re not only building a stronger team. You’re also helping others grow into confident, capable leaders themselves.
Chapter Officers and Committee Chairs Accountability
As an elected officer of the chapter you are expected to carry out your duties and responsibilities in a competent and professional manner. By assuming an elected office or committee chair student leaders are accountable to the chapter members, the chapter advisor, the National Office, and the reputation of ESG. Elected officers demonstrate the trust that chapter members have in their leadership to give direction for the organization. Probably the most important characteristic of the successful officer or committee chair is their dependability. In other words, when members need their help or when they say they are going to do something others can count on them to carry out their commitment. This is a quality of all successful leaders and professionals in health education and health promotion.