DECA Leadership

We must assume that leadership is a set of skills that can be learned, developed and applied to organizational involvement and everyday life. Leadership is not an inherent trait. Leadership is for everyone. If this is true, an effective leadership program will help members develop essential skills and give them an opportunity to put these skills to use.
One of the challenges we face in developing a leadership development program is that there are as many definitions of leadership as there are people to give definitions. In order to face this challenge, we formed a focus group composed of professionals who deal with leadership development as a major part of their job. This group was familiar with DECA, yet was diverse enough to give an outside perspective on the topic of leadership. Our group developed a list of characteristics or skills associated with effective leadership. Six major areas were identified.

• The ability to communicate effectively was one of the six skill areas identified. Effective communication allows leaders to share their vision for the organization they are working with. It is essential for the successful completion of goals and objectives. Effective communication was further broken down into the areas of written, verbal and nonverbal.

• Effective problem solving was also identified as an essential leadership skill. Leaders must be able to make decisions that will have a positive impact their organization when it faces a challenge.

• Being an effective team player was also identified as an essential leadership skill. This area includes the leader’s appreciation of service and citizenship. An effective leader values the strength of the team and uses this strength to better the organization and achieve its goals.

• Managing resources was the fourth essential leadership skill identified by our focus group. This area includes analyzing information and systems thinking. An effective leader is able to identify all his/her resources and use them in the most efficient manner to achieve the goals of the organization.

• The ability to acquire knowledge was also identified as an essential leadership skill. An effective leader has an excellent understanding of self and of his/her environment. This environment includes all aspects of his/her responsibilities as a leader of an organization. Leaders use the knowledge they acquire to benefit those they are serving

• Finally, we identified an appreciation and understanding of ethics as an essential leadership skill. Like any other skill, the practice of ethical behavior must be learned. This skill may be less substantive than the other five, but it influences all others. In other words, it should be put to practice in all that an effective leader does.

We are confident that a leadership program that develops these six essential leadership skills will greatly enhance the quality of a DECA member’s experience with the organization and with life in general.

A program that focuses on these six areas will increase the involvement of DECA members within their school and community. While developing their personal skills and preparing for their future, they will be benefiting everyone around them. Thus the program will create a win-win situation for all involved.

A student who develops these six essential skills will increase his or her personal confidence. For many teenagers, lack of confidence is a major factor in their seemingly complacent attitude. Increasing confidence will improve their performance in almost everything they do.

An effective young leader will lay the groundwork for many future successes. By developing leadership skills at a young age, students will have a head start on their careers. Professional success is often a result of the development of leadership skills early in life.

If students master the six essential leadership skills, they will be more effective in performing their duties for their current employers. Thus, improving DECA’s current on-the-job training program.

Last, students who develop these skills will perform more effectively in the classroom. They will be more focused and better able to manage their time. They will understand the importance of acquiring knowledge, and they will apply the knowledge they gain in the classroom to the rest of their lives.

With this in mind, we hope to move forward and develop a leadership development program that will fit the needs of all DECA members. Check back to this site for more information in the future.