The Student Leadership Challenge
Five Practices for Becoming an Exemplary Leader
J-B Leadership Challenge: Kouzes/Posner
![Cover](https://www.wiley-vch.de/media/com_eshop/products/resized/no-image-150x150.png)
4. Edition April 2024
384 Pages, Softcover
Practical Approach Book
A brand new edition of the bestselling book that helps students and young people to develop critical leadership skills
The Student Leadership Challenge is based on four decades of research on what people are doing when at their personal-best as leaders. With an approach tailored specifically to young and emerging leaders, this guide introduces The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership operating system, incorporating stories of leadership development from real students, as well as reflective and critical thinking activities at the end of each chapter. Readers will have opportunities to engage in each of The Five Practices, building leadership skills that translate to real world applications.
This fourth edition has been updated with new stories about topics critical to today's youth, including climate change, social justice, mental health, and virtual learning. Included with the book is access to the online Student Leadership Practices Inventory, so readers can achieve insight into their current leadership skills.
* Learn The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership, and how they help you succeed while in school and in life
* Get inspired by stories of students around the world who exhibit exemplary leadership
* Practice critical leadership behaviors and engage in thought-provoking reflections
* Assess your own potential with the Student Leadership Practices Inventory
As a result of reading and interacting with The Student Leadership Challenge, readers will emerge with a concrete leadership framework and new skills that they can take with them, wherever the future leads.
Prologue When Leaders Are at Their Personal Best
Practice Intro #1: Model the Way
Chapter 1. Commitment #1: Clarify Values
Chapter 2. Commitment #2: Set the Example
Practice Intro #2: Inspire a Shared Vision
Chapter 3. Commitment #3: Envision the Future
Chapter 4. Commitment #4: Enlist Others
Practice Intro #3: Challenge the Process
Chapter 5. Commitment #5: Search for Opportunities
Chapter 6. Commitment #6: Experiment and Take Risks
Practice Intro #4: Enable Others to Act
Chapter 7. Commitment #7: Foster Collaboration
Chapter 8. Commitment #8: Strengthen Others
Practice Intro #5: Encourage the Heart
Chapter 9. Commitment #9: Recognize Contributions
Chapter 10. Commitment #10: Celebrate the Values and Victories
Epilogue Continuing Your Leadership Development
Appendix: How You Behave Matters
Notes
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Index
"In the ten years that separated the first edition of The Student Leadership Challenge and this one, a lot has changed in our world. Numerous world leaders have also changed. Some for the better. What haven't changed are the fundamentals of leadership. Neither has the dream of young leaders around the world to make a difference. In fact today more than ever, we need young leaders to step up. The Student Leadership Challenge, Fourth Edition draws on the inspirational stories of young leaders who have made an impact in their communities in recent times and lays out very practical leadership lessons and commitments that will help any youth in their own journey of leadership. If there is ever a guide that young people can have in their leadership journey of making this world a better place, this book would be it! Read it, Live it, and Lead."
--Martin Tan, CEO, The Majurity Trust and co-founder, Halogen Singapore
"Reading this book will inspire students to be their best selves as leaders and empower students with the knowledge of The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership. For educators, The Student Leadership Challenge has superb resources for teaching leadership through assessments, case studies, experiential learning activities, and reflective assignments that are based upon research and tailored for a student audience."
--Lynn Perry Wooten, PhD, President, Simmons University
"At HKUST we have been using The Student Leadership Challenge framework in our leadership development programs since 2011. With the personal-best narratives of students from all over the globe, our students easily grasp and apply The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership in their individual contexts. The reflective exercises at the end of each chapter are exceptionally helpful guides for deeper learning, and the Student Leadership Practices Inventory (SLPI) allows students to get 360 feedbacks to plan their development path. The Student Leadership Challenge is a highly versatile resource for students to use in their leadership journeys and for practitioners to integrate into their educational programs."
--Helen HF Wong, Head (Co-Curricular Programs), Dean of Students' Office, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
"The Student Leadership Challenge is by far the book of choice for students and for teachers educating the next generation of leaders. In my leadership course at UC Berkeley I refer to Kouzes and Posner's book as 'our bible,' as it lays out both a philosophy of leadership and the steps to implement it. Reading it while utilizing the Student Leadership Practices Inventory (the book weaves them together) will help you gauge how you lead and how you can take practical steps to improve your leadership."
--Dan Mulhern, lecturer at the schools of Business, Law, and Public Policy, UC Berkeley, and author, Everyday Leadership: Getting Results in Business, Politics, and Life
"We utilize The Student Leadership Challenge as a foundation for our campus leadership platform, and it continues to provide guidance and support for leaders with all levels of experience. It is easy enough for new leaders to engage with, and yet sophisticated enough to take experienced leaders to the next level. The fourth edition has new examples for the practices and commitments. We find that all students can connect with The Five Practices, the Ten Commitments, and the new cases that provide real-life leadership examples. As we continue to implement our collaborative leadership model on our campus, this edition is a good refresher for those who are trained facilitators."
--Matt Baker, EdD, Vice President of Student Affairs, Northwest Missouri State University
"The fourth edition of The Student Leadership Challenge has it all. Leadership stories from students who've implemented the practices. Workbook elements that allow reflection of the material and action planning. The Student Leadership Practices Inventory that offers students a reliable assessment of how they are currently performing as leaders. Tried and true leadership practices backed by thirty years of research. This is the one book to have in your library to develop and sustain student leadership."
--Kevin W. Bailey, PhD, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, UNC Charlotte
"With a conversational tone and an interactive approach, Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner convey The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership to students in a way that is both relatable and inspiring. The Student Leadership Challenge retains all the sophistication and credibility of their original text and brings the material alive with examples of college-aged leaders from around the world. Even after more than ten years working with this material, I found this new edition to be full of new insights, examples, and applications."
--Miles Ashlock, Burke, MA, Chief of Staff to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, University of California, Santa Barbara
"The Student Leadership Challenge is the best leadership guidebook for college students available today. The fourth edition is especially relevant and applicable to helping college students overcome leadership challenges they face in the ever-changing landscape of higher education. This book is a comprehensive manual for students on how to practice the leadership behaviors needed to get extraordinary things done with others and for others. Employers will want every college graduate they hire to have read The Student Leadership Challenge."
--Shannon Cleverley-Thompson, Ed.D., Department Chair, Executive Leadership Visiting Assistant Professor, St. John Fisher University
"The evidence-based leadership practices empirically identified and expertly described by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner advance and elevate the field of leadership education towards deliberate practices. The Student Leadership Challenge gives emerging leaders a detailed roadmap for feedback, self-reflection, and application of leadership practices that contribute to human flourishing and performance. The five leadership practices are empirically supported, replicable, and integral to all academic disciplines preparing students for careers."
--Adrian Popa, PhD, chair, Department of Organizational Leadership, Gonzaga University
"The fourth edition of The Student Leadership Challenge is replete with intense and action-oriented stories and examples of how young leaders around the world are making a difference. This book is about 'doing leadership,' not just learning about leadership. It is a call to action, and I guarantee if you apply The Five Practices described in this book, you will make a difference in your world on a daily basis."
--Gary M. Morgan, founder/CEO, Student Leadership Excellence Academy
"If students were to ask me for the one book that clearly and inspiringly demonstrates how to maximize their leadership potential, The Student Leadership Challenge is the first book I would recommend. It is the 'Bible' of leadership for all aspiring leaders. Students reading this book will quickly understand that following The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership described in vivid detail in this book will help them maximize their leadership effectiveness. Most importantly, students reading this book will realize they already have the power to lead, and they have an obligation to lead. That's what makes The Student Leadership Challenge so powerful and definitely a book worthy of being the first leadership book in your library."
--Jody Rogers, PhD, FACHE, visiting professor, Department of Healthcare Administration, Trinity University
"In working over the years with first-generation students pursuing a career in medicine, I have come to rely on the leadership principles found in The Student Leadership Challenge. Based on solid research, this book is an essential guide to students in discovering the leader within. Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner's leadership insights truly inspire the hearts of those seeking to lead others in making a meaningful and positive change in their organizations, communities, and world. I highly recommend this book to all emerging leaders!"
--Mark Gutierrez, MA, director/leadership educator, Educational Programs and Services--Office of Diversity in Medical Education (ODME), Stanford School of Medicine
"The Student Leadership Challenge will enable you to make a difference in the world. On a daily basis, we all have opportunities to work within our circles of influence. The Five Practices make the prospect of leadership within these circles more concrete and tangible. The Ten Commitments equip you to direct your energy and take positive action. These are behaviors you can develop and practices you can foster in yourself and others. Regardless of your future career path, this book will show you how to build your leadership skills and fulfill your calling to contribute to the greater good."
--Kristin Kari Janke, PhD, professor, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, and director, Wulling Center for Innovation & Scholarship in Pharmacy Education
"The fourth edition of The Student Leadership Challenge provides a practical, tangible, real-life leadership development read for young leaders. This new work is inspiring and real. The stories included in this edition will enable the reader to see themselves as leaders who have utilized The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership in their everyday lives. The 'Reflect and Act' component added to every chapter is excellent and provides specific action steps for student leaders to enhance their leadership practice. Acknowledging the role of reflection throughout enables self-awareness and meaning making, which are critical to the leadership development process."
--Katie G. Burke, assistant vice president, Alumni & Community Engagement, Florida Atlantic University
"Practical, inspiring, down to earth. The stories of everyday student leaders make the concept of leadership accessible to everyone, especially those who think they are not leaders. Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner's research on the impact of leadership behaviors gives profound yet practical insight on how students can become better leaders. The Student Leadership Challenge will cause young readers to deeply reflect about what they want their student life to count for and how they will do something about issues that matter to them. This book is a must-read for every student or adult who works with students."
--Sean Kong, chief growth officer, Halogen, Singapore