Leadership

[pevergreen]

Quick background to those who dont know me.

16 year old male, in year 11. I go to school with Killfr3nzy, Twilightblade, Beefy187, Zorg and Sarathos.

Leadership positions at the school have just been decided. Fashion leader, sports leaders etc.

I was chosen as Information Tech steward (IT)

Main thing is a huge LAN at the end of each term (SPWND)

But people didnt vote for me. Infact out of ~250 votes, i got 3. One was my own.

Problem was, all applicants are friends. But from the level of increased hatred I now get from my peers, I am wondering, should I leave it, and hand it over to the more popular guy?

The current IT steward was asked his opinion on which candidate, he said me.

I have helped out through the year, I know I can do a better job.

But is hatred from my friends (these arent random friends, these are great people. Some I have known for around 10 years) a good-enough pay out?

Bah. On top of that, the female I am working with...I am attracted to. Immensly. That is another factor.

Any help is welcomed.

(note to any SPLC people reading. Dont.)

[sapi]

If your friends are actually irritated about you getting a position over them, then the problem here lies with only one party - and it's not you.

I'm of the feeling that, were you to step down, you'd only receive increased flak from your peers for not only getting the position that they wanted, but being unwilling to do it after being chosen as the best man for the job.

Give it a few weeks; find out if they were just giving you the usual **** over getting something like this. I can't imagine good mates actually giving a ****, tbh

[English assassin]

Your friends will get over it. If they are worth having as friends.

Bah. On top of that, the female I am working with...I am attracted to. Immensly. That is another factor.

My advice: Boff her.

[pevergreen]

Boff? I must not be understanding the local term...

[doc_bean]

I have nothing to add the previously given advise by EA and Sapi but my full agreement.

[Geoffrey S]

In the end it is for you to decide. If you really think you can do a better job then I'd say go for it, prove why the previous IT steward thought you'd be good for the position.

And if you're worrying about friends, don't. If they're real friends they couldn't care less if you got the position over them, and even if they really dislike it, well, don't mind it too much. It might not seem like it at 16, but friendships from that time except for the best generally don't last past high school to uni; new friendships are made and things move on. Just don't back yourself into a corner doing something you'd rather not or not doing something you'd like to because of worries over losing friends, that only makes you unhappy and helps no-one.

[FactionHeir]

A leadership position involves skill, responsibility and dedication. You were chosen even though you did not have the most votes because of these factors.
While at school, most positions are filled purely/mainly due to popularity, I am actually glad to see that at your's, the above named factors are more important - as they should be.

Therefore, don't just give up because of public pressure, but show them that you were the right and best choice for this position.

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds" - A. Einstein

[Odin]

Quick background to those who dont know me.

16 year old male, in year 11. I go to school with Killfr3nzy, Twilightblade, Beefy187, Zorg and Sarathos.

Leadership positions at the school have just been decided. Fashion leader, sports leaders etc.

I was chosen as Information Tech steward (IT)

Main thing is a huge LAN at the end of each term (SPWND)

But people didnt vote for me. Infact out of ~250 votes, i got 3. One was my own.

Problem was, all applicants are friends. But from the level of increased hatred I now get from my peers, I am wondering, should I leave it, and hand it over to the more popular guy?

The current IT steward was asked his opinion on which candidate, he said me.

I have helped out through the year, I know I can do a better job.

But is hatred from my friends (these arent random friends, these are great people. Some I have known for around 10 years) a good-enough pay out?

Bah. On top of that, the female I am working with...I am attracted to. Immensly. That is another factor.

Any help is welcomed.

(note to any SPLC people reading. Dont.)

So you got the position based on 1.2% of the vote, you now have serious issues with friends, and someone you are working with your attracted too.

Yet you want this position.

To be blunt this smells like a recipe for failure. Despite the rosey advices given, a 3 vote victory seems a bit hollow mate. Im sure you would do a fine job but you dont have a mandate.

Leadership can take many forms, it seems to me deomcratic leadership will be your best avenue for success given the circumstances, but its a big hole to climb out of.

My opinion is I am suspect as to how you got this position, if you are the most qualified and have a firm reccomendation then i concede, otherwise my eye brow is raised.

To be successful you should immediately engage the other candidates who assumebly got more votes then you and set up some form of a committee participation action. By honest engagement and power sharing of duties and decisions you will of course soften any negativity to your appointment.

I dont advocate giving up, you are a leader now, and you must adapt to figure out how to be a successful one. Engagement and sincere sharing of decision making is your best bet for success in the position.

[sapi]

To be blunt this smells like a recipe for failure. Despite the rosey advices given, a 3 vote victory seems a bit hollow mate. Im sure you would do a fine job but you dont have a mandate.

Seriously, I've no idea why they'd even consider showing the results of the vote in public...

[Odin]

Seriously, I've no idea why they'd even consider showing the results of the vote in public...

given the results posted, im not sure why a vote was held. Clearly he got his mandate based on performance and a reccomendation (there is nothing wrong with that, literally thats how it works in the business world).

The vote as represented by his post does nothing more then undermine his position.

[Andres]

The most popular guy isn't always the most competent leader...

If experienced and capable people chose pevergreen, then pevergreen is the right man in the right place.

Do what the experienced and capable people expect you to do and everything will be just fine. You'll earn respect eventually. And if not, who cares? As long as the job is done how it is supposed to be done. You don't have your position to be/to become popular, but to do your job.

A bit more confidence in your skills, young padawan, that's what you need, nothing more.

Just my

[Geoffrey S]

Who held the vote, anyway? It seems like the position is filled by whoever the previous leader chooses, so I can't quite see what other mandate you'd need if you believe yourself you can do a good job. Was the vote arranged by someone cheesed off that they weren't chosen or something?

[naut]

@ EA:

pevergreen, rule them with an iron fist and make them fear your name.

Seriously though, good luck. Make your choice wisely. Weigh up the pros and cons and make a rational decision.

And always remember one thing, it's better to regret something you did than to regret something you didn't do.

[doc_bean]

So you got the position based on 1.2% of the vote, you now have serious issues with friends, and someone you are working with your attracted too.

Yet you want this position.

To be blunt this smells like a recipe for failure. Despite the rosey advices given, a 3 vote victory seems a bit hollow mate. Im sure you would do a fine job but you dont have a mandate.

He's hardly going to lead to school to war, or introduce social security measures. He doesn't need a mandate, he just needs to be good at his job.

To be successful you should immediately engage the other candidates who assumebly got more votes then you and set up some form of a committee participation action. By honest engagement and power sharing of duties and decisions you will of course soften any negativity to your appointment.

This is good advice and how I would approach the issue.

[Odin]

He's hardly going to lead to school to war, or introduce social security measures. He doesn't need a mandate, he just needs to be good at his job.

Havent seen you in a while, welcome back.

We disagree. Given the information in his post its out there that he recieved 3 votes (he dosent say this directly, but why else would his close friends be angry?).

Given that a democratic process took place, yet the result of which wasnt honored (I am assuming someone was able to amass more then 3 votes) then certainly does need a mandate.

Clearly the one he has from the previous job holder isnt enough, otherwise he wouldnt have angry friends. The democratic engaging leadership style is how he can get his mandate, as clearly to me they believe he dosent deserve the job.

[doc_bean]

[QUOTE=Odin]Havent seen you in a while, welcome back.

thanks, I've been keeping low in the backroom for a while.

Given that a democratic process took place, yet the result of which wasnt honored (I am assuming someone was able to amass more then 3 votes) then certainly does need a mandate

Well, if another guy really got a lot more votes than you are probably right. High school politics are weird and without more details it's hard to judge.

Clearly the one he has from the previous job holder isnt enough, otherwise he wouldnt have angry friends.

Meh, teenagers get angry at everything.

The democratic engaging leadership style is how he can get his mandate, as clearly to me they believe he dosent deserve the job.

How much of it is just envy though ?

[Odin]

Well, if another guy really got a lot more votes than you are probably right. High school politics are weird and without more details it's hard to judge.

Sometimes I forget not everyone is 37 here, yes teens struggle with things like this, but I suspect someone got a lot more then 3....

[Geoffrey S]

It's smaller scale, but at the rowing club I'm a member of the guy this year who runs the kitchen and cooking team would absolutely not have won the popular vote or have been expected to be particularly good at the job, but has turned out to have been the best possible choice: he runs the team well and the food has been delicious, much better than last year. It wasn't expected and people agree now that he was the best choice, including the other candidates.

Sometimes I forget not everyone is 37 here, yes teens struggle with things like this, but I suspect someone got a lot more then 3....

Hmmm... voting...

A: Candidate 1
B: Candidate 2
C: Pevergreen
D: Gah!

[FactionHeir]

Pevergreen would have voted Gah! though
But yes, we don't know how many candidates there were and how many abstention votes or invalid votes.

[pevergreen]

Well there is a male and a female role.

Voting was combined though.

So the female got over 60% of the votes.

Voting is not the whole process.

The votes mentioned are student votes.

Teachers vote, there is a board which looks at the applications.

The current people in that position give their reccomendation.

I read the one I got from the current guy. He said I was enthusiastic and had helped out.

Then interviews happened.

I think I will take Rythmic's suggestion and rule with an iron fist.

Thanks for your help guys.

[Ser Clegane]

Well there is a male and a female role.

Voting was combined though.

So the female got over 60% of the votes.

Voting is not the whole process.

The votes mentioned are student votes.

Teachers vote, there is a board which looks at the applications.

The current people in that position give their reccomendation.

I read the one I got from the current guy. He said I was enthusiastic and had helped out.

Then interviews happened.

Based on this I think your school should seriouly re-consider the process it uses to select people for such positions.
This approach almost makes sure that there will be frustration and awkwardness.

Apart from that, positions like "IT steward" don't sound like something that should be staffed via a democratic process.
If the position requires certain capabilities and know-how and if somebody who held this position feels that you have the capabilities, chances are that you are a good choice (and friends should hopefully recognize that as well when they get beyond a - perhaps understandable - initial disappointment)

[Ramses II CP]

Take the long view. The position is resume filler that just might impress someone at your college of choice. Compared to that a few friends having a hissy fit is piddly stuff.

As tempting as it may be to regard it otherwise, the purpose of High School is not to be the most popular. I'm not saying you shouldn't smell the roses (Dude above is right, boff her, snog her, gush her, and all those other kiddie terms for ****ing her seven ways to Sunday... err, after you familiarize yourself with the Age of Consent laws for your state or etc.), but seriously don't get caught up in trying to please a bunch of teenagers.

The most important lesson you can learn from school at this level is how absurdly ephemeral these seemingly agonizing choices actually are. Next week you'll have a whole other crisis going on, guaranteed.

[pevergreen]

There we go. I had a feeling that was the meaning. I wasn't sure of the slang used there.

Age of Consent? 16

Lets move away from that topic though, no axe please...