Leadership development among traditional-age community college students

Abstract

Leadership skills are a necessary part of the preparation of community college students for university transfer or employment. However, the development of leadership skills for traditional-age community college students can be challenging based on generational traits and issues related to the community college context. The purpose of this study was to explore the perception of leadership and personal development of leadership skills among traditional-age community college students. After collecting data through interviews with thirteen traditional-age community college students, general inductive analysis was utilized to investigate the perceptions and experiences related to leadership development. By using the leadership identity development theory as a theoretical framework, analysis resulted in the themes Defining Leadership, which included leadership identity, influence, qualities of effective leaders, and qualities of ineffective leaders; and Developing Leadership, which consisted of the impact of others, impact of personal experiences, and perceptions of personal leadership development. Participants reported varied movement through the leadership identity development model based on both the examples of others and personal experiences. Millennial generational traits were both beneficial and challenging to leadership development, as was the context of the community college. Performing arts students also exhibited a more developed leadership identity than did participants involved in athletics. Community college faculty, staff, and administrators can find relevance in these findings as they continue to assist students in developing leadership skills. Additional research in organizational-based leadership development, as well as continued research on the impact of experience in leadership identity development, is needed.