Leadership Toolkit

Employers' comments

“There is currently a world skills shortage.  Graduates are increasingly required to take on high responsibilities far earlier in their careers than their predecessors.  An ability for young professionals to lead in such an environment is critical to the success of our organisation and their advancement.”

(Employer of Griffith Graduates, 2006)

“Leadership starts with yourself.  If you cannot manage yourself, how can you manage others?  By being a good role model, leadership will come naturally.”

(Employer of Griffith Graduates, 2006)

“Leadership is in essence about confidence: mainly the confidence to make decisions and back them up.  Not all decisions are without risks.  This means that in the final analysis, leadership is about having the confidence to make decisions involving an element of risk.” 

(Employer of Griffith Graduates, 2006)

“Leadership is not about telling people what to do - it is about conviction in your own decisions and ideas, and the ability to translate them into positive outcomes for all concerned.”

(Employer of Griffith Graduates, 2006)

“It is important for students to develop leadership skills in their degree because those skills become a marketable commodity for gaining employment after university.  First and foremost, employers are looking for students to take responsibility for their careers and lead themselves to their goals and ambitions.”

(Employer of Griffith Graduates, 2006)

“In today's workplace, employees need to show leadership, independence and self-management skills if they want to achieve in their careers and develop professionally.  Griffith University, through its courses and projects, provides students with the opportunity to develop and refine leadership skills which will put them ahead of the rest with employers.”

(Employer of Griffith Graduates, 2006)

Graduates' comments

“Leadership relates to the ability to influence others.  To be a leader one needs followers.  Hence, leadership focuses on an individual's behaviour and characteristics, which encompasses, but is not restricted to a high level of self-knowledge, self-management, integrity, trustworthiness, vision, effective communication and achievement.”

(Griffith Graduate, 2005)

“If you want to get ahead in any employment you need leadership skills. Leadership is about making changes happen - it isn't about being the boss. Being a leader means not just having the good ideas, but being able to communicate them and make sure they are implemented.“

(Griffith Graduate, 2004)

“Leadership has been very important for my career, post-my degrees at Griffith. My degrees gave me the skills and knowledge to envision best practice, but leadership skills gave me the confidence to challenge the status quo to achieve it. Once you are prepared to put your neck on the line for what you believe will really help, people respect you.”

(Griffith Graduate, 2003)

Students' comments

“Leadership is an extremely important and vitally essential skill to have in my field of study, law. In the practical life of a lawyer, you need to take the initiative, be self-driven, work cooperatively in a group or team environment and reach specific goals. All these skills develop from a person with strong leadership qualities.”

(Griffith Student)

“When I did work placement in my course recently, I realised how much leadership matters.  It's about being in charge of what you do and organising all your resources - including people - ­­to make something happen.”

(Griffith Student)

“I've learned that team projects at university are a great way to develop your leadership skills, because leadership is about working 'with' people - not about being the boss.”

(Griffith Student)

[ top ]