The Ultimate Student Engagement, Retention, & Success Strategy

PERSPECTIVE:

Since the 1980's Transformational Leadership has been a focal point of research in an effort to discover and develop strategies to maximize follower capabilities. In today's educational climate, high school and college age students possess an appetite for achievement but in their own unique way. I hear statements such as, "If I could do ___________, while helping people with _________, it would be perfect", on a daily basis. Many students describe to me an ideal state that includes a concoction of skillsets and professions that may not necessarily exist. This leads me to assist students in soul searching in hopes of uncovering their ultimate motive. This generation of students are not looking to fit a mold that currently exists, they are looking to feel a sense of purpose and fulfillment towards their work that is historically unconventional. It's not enough to simply make money, receive a competitive benefits package, and grind day in and day out. Students want ownership, meaning, fulfillment, and independence.

Therefore, the question to address is "how can you empower each student to grow as a leader personally, professionally, in the pursuit of their goals, in a reasonable timeframe?". My answer to this question would pave the way for the Transformational Leaders Program to become an early success with limitless potential.

In 1985, thirteen years before I was born, Bernard Bass made major contributions to the Transformational Leadership Model at Binghamton University. He paid special attention to the importance of supplementing other developmental factors with charisma in an effort to completely transform the follower. He believed that idealized goal setting, getting leaders to transcend their own self-interests, and a focus on addressing higher needs was the pathway to success.

Fast forward to my first months on the job as the Coordinator of the Transformational Leaders Program, a one-of-a-kind program that was going to promote professional trajectories for students who are underrepresented and/or facing economic barriers by providing unique leadership curricular offerings tailored to each student's individual needs. Then Associate Dean, Dr. Shelley Dionne believed that I had the potential to guide the Transformational Leaders Program in the right direction with her support.

I had the privilege of meeting another monumental figure, Dr. Kelli Kapustka Smith, the Assistant Vice President for Student Success at Binghamton University, in which she inspired me and empowered me to guide the program in the right direction. I left our first interaction with reading materials which gave me better context into the Transformational Leadership Model, and how powerful it is when properly utilized.

Today, we are honored to have received our first national recognition; The 2023 INSIGHT Into Diversity Inspiring Programs in Business Award. The commitment of many key players, especially, the phenomenal students that I steward are the reason this honor was possible. 

HOW WE USE TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP TO EDUCATE, DEVELOP, AND RETAIN STUDENTS:

Transformational Leadership is concerned with improving the performance of followers and developing followers to their fullest potential (Avolio, 1999; Bass & Avolio, 1990a). With that being said there are four factors, or what I like to call ingredients, that help ensure the mission is accomplished. These factors are:

• Idealized Influence- The behavioral component (charisma).
• Inspirational Motivation- The fuel that inspires commitment to the cause through communication (the rally).
• Intellectual Stimulation- The stimulation of creative and innovative thinking (the challenge)
• Individualized Consideration- Intentional attentiveness to individual needs and desires (supportive climate). A commitment to partner in the pursuit

This framework answers the question "how can you empower each student to grow as a leader personally, professionally, in the pursuit of their goals, in a reasonable timeframe?". For many educators and facilitators in both higher education and secondary education settings I believe the implementation of this strategy can move mountains of uncertainty and tear down barriers of mediocrity.

Our framework involves allowing each of the 4 I's to inform our programming, initiatives, and progress. In some cases, student resources need to be created, in others, they simply need to be correctly activated and allocated.

In this breakdown I'll explain what you need, who you need, and tips on facilitating experiences within each factor.

THE STRATEGY:

Idealized Influence:

"Exposure leads to expansion."

Summary:

Idealized Influence is the emotional component of leadership that assists the student in attaching meaning to their work. The leader must be seen as highly trustworthy and full of integrity in both good and bad seasons. Proper implementation results in students overcoming mental/intellectual barriers in their pursuit of their goals.

What you need:

• A credible and consistent leader (educator, facilitator, coordinator, director, alum)
• A clear ideal future state for each student, and the ability to clearly communicate it.

Tips to implement:

• Alumni and peer mentorship initiatives
• Relevant industry visits
• Qualified & respected guest speakers

These initiatives should take place frequently throughout the semester or marking period to ensure each student is buying into the vision of your program and how it relates to the establishment of their personal vision and success.

Inspirational Motivation:

"You can, You will, You must be successful."

Summary:

Inspirational motivation serves as the fuel for your vehicle on the road to prosperity. Week 4 is not as easy as Week 1, and Week 9 is not as simple as Week 4. For this reason, both the students and facilitators must be inspired daily to attack the mission and vision. The truth of the matter is mastering motivation helps alleviate the pain students suffer grinding for weeks upon weeks during the course of a semester.

Motivation becomes simple when the students can taste, feel, see, hear, and touch the desired result. It is crucial for the inspiration to include more than just words!

What you need:

• A mouth, and the ability to use it at a high level
• A message that is worth repeating

Example 1 (timeline): "You are ________ weeks away from having the opportunity to accomplish ________."

I often create a message and establish a timeline that relates to the message coming to fruition. This creates a sense of urgency and anticipation for the student and helps them maintain a high-level work ethic.

Example 2 ("The Easy Hard Principle"): This analogy ties the need for Fall, and Winter into the many benefits Spring, and Summer provide. In addition, Newton's Third Law which states that "for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction". These illustrations are important because they explain:

1. "Hard" times are necessary so that "easy" times can exist. Life is lived in seasons.
2. Every time you push yourself to accomplish something, the benefits are compounding in the future for you.

Tips to implement:

• Have multiple messages for multiple situations (most cases are similar, but all are unique)
• Rely on inspirational people in your network, or around campus
• Intentionally schedule time to "speak life" into your group
• Use technology (inspirational speeches, commencement speeches, entrepreneurs overcoming unique challenges on their way to success)

Intellectual Stimulation:

"You are the only person on planet Earth who can leave your fingerprint... act like it!"

Summary:

Intellectual stimulation is the assurance that the leader, follower, and everyone else involved continue to innovate. Intellectual stimulation is the desire, support, and engagement of creativity in your environment.

Quick point: This does not mean that there are no right answers, it simply means that the input, and strategies of everyone are considered in decision making and execution processes.

What you need:

• Ideally, a course, weekly meeting/gathering time
• A curriculum that supports independent thought
• A patient facilitator who listens, and asks excellent questions

Tips to implement:

• Utilize current events to engage students in thought provoking discussions
• Place students in low stakes problem-solving situations
• Encourage/push every single student to provide feedback

Individualized Consideration:

"How are you?"

Summary:

Individualized consideration is the ability of the leader to create a supportive climate for every single student/follower. Every student's needs must be considered when monitoring progress. High school and college students specifically are in a very pivotal time in life figuring out who they are, and what they can become, all while juggling the pressures of daily life. Individualized consideration has no shortcuts.

What you need:

• Tactical listening skills (ideally training as a coach or advisor)
• A desire and ability to solve problems (scheduled and off schedule)
• A gameplan tool for each student to track progress and conversations (Personally, I have what I call a "Playbook" for each student)

Tips to implement:

• Install mandatory 1 on 1 meetings early on (not to waste time, but to gain context)
• Create multiple communication channels (Email, text, in-person and virtual office hours, GroupMe, campus engagement software's)

Conclusion:

In conclusion, I believe that our commitment to execute this framework over time has paid us huge dividends in educating, engaging, and retaining students over time.

The implementation of these factors will result in students reaching new heights and performing beyond expectations. Transformational leadership is about producing amazing results in manageable timeframes.