How To Be An Effective Leader
- This site (link below) has been created to provide a free source of information for drum majors to help them be more effective. There is information for all styles of drum majors and field conductors.
- This link is a blog with tips and inspiration for successful leaders
- WikiHow article on leading (not just for Section Leaders)
- The three videos are band leadership training by Duane Huff
Tips for Captains and Section Leaders
- Organize get-togethers with your section. This will help you and your section bond.
- Pass on section traditions; handshakes, pre-competition/game traditions, any unusual sayings, etc. This will keep the tradition alive, and it will establish a sense of being a part of something.
- Make sectional t-shirts!
- Tell everyone to come to sectionals early. This way, time won't be lost waiting for people to show up.
- Since you'll probably be able to drive while your section won't be, offer to give them rides home from practice or competitions if they need them.
- Call your section a week before band camp starts. Remind of band camp, and suggest that they practice so they don't have to catch up during band camp.
- If practical, try and get in contact with former section leaders of your section, and ask them for assistance. This is a great way to learn from others, especially if you haven't been paying much attention to your past section leaders.
- Do your best to offer advice in a way that doesn't hurt anyone's feelings. For instance, instead of yelling at them for always missing the same choreography, say something like "by the way, we have to make sure we twist our wrist in order to all be performing that particular move correctly ... here, let me help you". Wording is key.
- Be funny and creative to motivate your section to do well. Even be willing to sacrifice your dignity sometimes to do it. You could try making a "deal" with your section, that if they all pass-off, they can pie you or make you do something else ridiculous. Make goofy, bright colored hats for people to wear when they need to focus (all in fun, of course).
- Feed them. Food is a great motivation and it also offers your section a chance to bond with each other. Bring breakfast on competition mornings, or hand out small pastries for no reason. They'll love you for it.
- Give rewards! An really easy and ridiculous way to motivate your section is to give stickers to them when they do a good job. For some reason this works. Offer to throw a movie party if everyone memorizes their routine by a certain date.
Leadership Begins with Self‐Leadership
Begin with who am I?
What are my values and Core beliefs?
What kind of Leader do I want to be?
What motivates me?
What do I value?
Student Leadership habits:
Adapted from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey
Habit 1: Be Proactive
“Take Responsibility for your life”
Habit 2: Begin with The End in Mind
“Define your mission and your goals in life.”
Habit 3: Put First Things First
“Prioritize, and do the most important things first.”
Habit 4: Think Win-Win
“Have an everyone-can-win attitude.”
Habit 5: Seek first to understand, then to be understood
“Listen to people sincerely.”
Habit 6: Synergize
“Work together to achieve more.”
Habit 7: Sharpen The Saw
“Renew yourself regularly.”
Student Leadership Goals:
14 Character Traits
1: Attitude Development
Effective Student Leaders display positive and enthusiastic attitudes at all times.
2: Communication Skills
Effective Student Leaders must take the responsibility of a communicator seriously.
3: Positive Role Modeling
Effective Student Leaders must set a proper example at all times.
4: Personal Responsibility
Effective Student Leaders will take on whatever responsibility needed to accomplish
“what needs to done when it needs to be done.”
5: Understanding Self-Motivation
Effective Student Leaders take initiative.
6: Sensitivity in Working with Peers
Effective Student leaders understand that they must “motivate and NOT dictate.”
7: Self-Accountability
Effective Student Leaders understand that a primary quality to a successful leader is the ability for
self-accountability.
8: Action Plans to Achieve Group Goals
Effective Student Leaders are aware of the group goals and then take action plans to implement the
necessary steps to ensure that the students in their section are properly prepared.
9: Understanding Leadership
Effective Student Leaders will do what is right when no one is watching and stay true the
organization’s core values.
10: TEAMWORK
Effective student leaders understand that only Together Everyone Achieves More
11: Attributes of Leadership
Effective Student Leaders portray the following attributes:
12: Commitment to Excellence:
Attitude
Integrity
Goals
Sacrifice
Excellence
Success
Character
Perseverance
Accountability
Effective Student Leaders are individuals who have a clear commitment to excellence.
13: INTEGRITY
Effective Student Leaders conduct their lives with integrity.
The dictionary defines integrity as “the soundness of moral character, adherence
to ethical principles, and being unimpaired.”
14: WORK ETHIC
Effective Student Leaders are the epitome of hard workers. Hard work is the basic building block
of every kind of achievement.
Student Leadership Team
“If not now, when?
If not here, where?
If not you, who?”
An intricate building block in the infrastructure of your organization will be your development
of an effective Student Leadership Council.
Begin with who am I?
What are my values and Core beliefs?
What kind of Leader do I want to be?
What motivates me?
What do I value?
Student Leadership habits:
Adapted from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey
Habit 1: Be Proactive
“Take Responsibility for your life”
Habit 2: Begin with The End in Mind
“Define your mission and your goals in life.”
Habit 3: Put First Things First
“Prioritize, and do the most important things first.”
Habit 4: Think Win-Win
“Have an everyone-can-win attitude.”
Habit 5: Seek first to understand, then to be understood
“Listen to people sincerely.”
Habit 6: Synergize
“Work together to achieve more.”
Habit 7: Sharpen The Saw
“Renew yourself regularly.”
Student Leadership Goals:
14 Character Traits
1: Attitude Development
Effective Student Leaders display positive and enthusiastic attitudes at all times.
2: Communication Skills
Effective Student Leaders must take the responsibility of a communicator seriously.
3: Positive Role Modeling
Effective Student Leaders must set a proper example at all times.
4: Personal Responsibility
Effective Student Leaders will take on whatever responsibility needed to accomplish
“what needs to done when it needs to be done.”
5: Understanding Self-Motivation
Effective Student Leaders take initiative.
6: Sensitivity in Working with Peers
Effective Student leaders understand that they must “motivate and NOT dictate.”
7: Self-Accountability
Effective Student Leaders understand that a primary quality to a successful leader is the ability for
self-accountability.
8: Action Plans to Achieve Group Goals
Effective Student Leaders are aware of the group goals and then take action plans to implement the
necessary steps to ensure that the students in their section are properly prepared.
9: Understanding Leadership
Effective Student Leaders will do what is right when no one is watching and stay true the
organization’s core values.
10: TEAMWORK
Effective student leaders understand that only Together Everyone Achieves More
11: Attributes of Leadership
Effective Student Leaders portray the following attributes:
12: Commitment to Excellence:
Attitude
Integrity
Goals
Sacrifice
Excellence
Success
Character
Perseverance
Accountability
Effective Student Leaders are individuals who have a clear commitment to excellence.
13: INTEGRITY
Effective Student Leaders conduct their lives with integrity.
The dictionary defines integrity as “the soundness of moral character, adherence
to ethical principles, and being unimpaired.”
14: WORK ETHIC
Effective Student Leaders are the epitome of hard workers. Hard work is the basic building block
of every kind of achievement.
Student Leadership Team
“If not now, when?
If not here, where?
If not you, who?”
An intricate building block in the infrastructure of your organization will be your development
of an effective Student Leadership Council.
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A FEW LESSONS ABOUT TEAMWORK FROM OUR FRIENDS, THE GEESE!
Fact 1: As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an “uplift” for the birds that follow. By flying in a “V” formation, the
whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.
Fact 2: When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly
moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.
Fact 3: When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.
Fact 4: The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep going! Lesson: We need to make sure
our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater. The power of
encouragement, which is to listen to one’s own heart or core values, and to listen to the core values of others, is the
quality of honking we seek.
Fact 5: When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help
protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation of geese
and try to catch up with the flock.
Fact 1: As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an “uplift” for the birds that follow. By flying in a “V” formation, the
whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.
Fact 2: When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly
moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.
Fact 3: When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.
Fact 4: The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep going! Lesson: We need to make sure
our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater. The power of
encouragement, which is to listen to one’s own heart or core values, and to listen to the core values of others, is the
quality of honking we seek.
Fact 5: When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help
protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation of geese
and try to catch up with the flock.
RULES OF THE FIELD
1. Everyone is quiet, standing in the correct position, waiting to listen for instructions.
It is extremely important that this step is carried out throughout the entire rehearsal, regardless of length. Everyone must be quiet in order to maximize rehearsal time and understand the directions the first time they are given. Even if you are talking but can still hear your instructor, you could be distracting those around you. Everyone must be standing correctly in order to allow your visual staff to view and fix formations accordingly, making every set as perfect as possible to maximize the visual aspect of your show.
2. Instructions are given and you comprehend them, thinking in advance of what you are about to do.
All too often mistakes are made because people are thinking “in the moment,” rather than a few counts ahead. Before each repetition, think ahead to all directions changes, horn moves, etc., and anticipate mistakes and difficulties ahead of time. Once you have completed this step, look around and observe those in your section for puzzled faces or confusion; help them complete this step if necessary.
3. Execute with the best possible effort.
This is indeed one of the most important aspects of a successful season. Most bands fail to maximize their efforts during rehearsal in order to “save it for the show.” Realize, however, that when you do something new at show, (like try your hardest), you are allowing an entirely new set of problems to arise. The only way to guarantee a good performance is to consistently maintain good rehearsal; the performance should be no different than the run through at the end of practice. Be observant with your section, always motivating them to do their best and work as a team.
4. Wait for instruction from whoever is leading rehearsal, then listen for field techs.
The most efficient way of cleaning the show is for the leader of rehearsal to speak, (usually whoever is in the press box or on the podium), then listen for field staff. Most importantly, you may not speak until all staff is finished speaking, and only if you are instructed to do so. Even if your comments are with good intentions, your speaking will be distracting to those around you and will not allow every single person on the field to hear the information being given by their staff. Listen for instructions from whoever is running rehearsal first. This information will usually pertain to the bigger picture and overall aspects of show, directed towards the entire band or specific sections. Information will then be given from the field staff, usually pertaining to more specific and detailed aspects of the show, directed towards specific sections of the band or individuals. Once all staff has finished, you may speak and help your section only if directed by your staff. Remember, you are not a staff member; you are the leader of your section. You provide guidance and a clear example for members of your section to follow, and nothing else unless told otherwise.
5. Evaluate your performance and find things to improve on.
Remember, as a leader, it is your job to be an expert; to be as perfect as possible. Most section leaders worry too much about those around them, and not enough on their own performance. Before you can help others, you must master your own craft. Think about things you did well, and pick a few things to improve on next time.
6. Repeat back to step 1!
Congratulations, you have just successfully completed one repetition. The key is to stick to these rules throughout the entire rehearsal, keeping a fast paced, efficient, well organized environment. If you and the rest of your team follows these instructions, you will ensure that all members of your band will be focused, always trying their best, and all working together towards the ultimate goal of pushing the limits of the band and maximizing the show.