<p>Question: How do you increase your chances of securing a leadership position? </p>
<p>Optional read--my situation: Outside of my job, I'm only involved in two ECs, both of which I dedicate a tremendous amount of work to lead and improve. I have leadership positions in both clubs, but in November the clubs will be doing new officer elections.</p>
<p>Last year, I successfully developed new projects for both clubs and made sure I was accessible and friendly to all members. My concern is that all club elections are based purely on popularity votes. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, both clubs are saturated with power-hungry, resume-padding kids who bring their friends to election meetings to vote for themselves. Of course, there are always sincere members who commit to the club, but they are a minority compared to the majority of leadership wh0res. I've done a successful job this year as an officer for both clubs, but in no way does this secure the continuation of my position. </p>
<p>If I don't get to keep my positions, I'll definitely continue to contribute to the clubs, but my capacity to initiate new ideas and projects would be extremely limited. This is my biggest concern, so I definitely want to keep my positions. What can I do to secure the leadership positions?</p>
<p>I'd appreciate any feedback you may have. Thanks a ton in advance!</p>
<p>just make sure you reiterate the fact that you are the incumbent and have already proved that you can do a great job. in my school at least, people rarely would care enough to vote out, or even run against an incumbent.</p>
<p>if worse comes to worst, just stoop to their levels and bring all of your friends to the meetings to vote for you! :P</p>
<p>If you were “cool” in the sense that you helped everyone finish their hours in a timely manner, and you were nice and not weird (the bad weird), then I would vote for you. I would think that as long as you seem to be doing a really good job you should win unless some of these kids formed a lobby group and filibustered against you by conspiring together. In that case, I would bring out the ammunition (brownies, cupcakes, and other sweets).</p>
<p>Thanks for the (slightly entertaining) advice! I guess I will keep my friends and the ammunition at hand ;)</p>
<p>Can anyone else offer some insight for this topic?</p>
<p>Slowly gun down every possible candidate for the position you seek.</p>
<p>I meant to answer this this afternoon, but here’s some advice. What I would try to do is the ‘door to door’ campaign approach. Before or after meetings, pretty much just go to (neutral) club members and talk to them, be friendly, etc. even a simple “what’s up man, how’s it going?” can go a long way to forming a better impression. Maybe a “what’s up man so are you gonna vote for me?” haha. When they decide which box to check, they might remember talking to you and that might make the difference. just a thought</p>
<p>Yeah…leadership positions are often a result of popularity. Our new math team president rapped to his poem and won. No one understood what the lyrics were saying, or what he was going to do/his position on things and etc., but people voted for him because he rapped. How pathetic.</p>
<p>But, that’s getting off the topic. As mentioned above, huge HUGE importance on stating that you are the incumbent (last year’s president). It helps immensely in the voting process and boosts your credibility so much. (AP Gov book said that incumbents in Congress win reelection about 89% of the time, so already you have a 9/10 chance of winning =P) Aside from that, try to limit the cheese in presenting yourself. Everyone always says in their speech that they will work hard, try to make things fun for everyone, and yaddah yaddah yaddah. Ugh. If you can, say like “With me, things like hard work and having fun are always a given” and then move on. Quick, concise, and brief.</p>