I was once an elected officer (‘Sabb’), and it still astonishes me how that one year had such a profound impact on me.
A lot can happen in a year. The elections mark the beginning of a journey full of ideas, passion, and a strong sense of purpose. But the clock starts ticking immediately — there’s not much time to make a meaningful impact. Looking for details about our Students' Union training? View the training overview.
Starting from scratch
Every newly elected Students’ Union team faces the same fundamental challenge: how to work together effectively when they’ve only just met.
These students often come from diverse backgrounds and have varying levels of experience and expectations. Without intentional team building, they risk:
misalignment on goals
conflicts and misunderstandings
lost momentum
So, how do you transform a group of individuals into a unified, high-performing team — and do so quickly? Let's discover...
How to build successful Students’ Union elected officer teams
Having built high-performing teams at leading non-profit organisations such as The Prince’s Trust, and trained elected officers at unions including Oxford and York, here are my top tips:
1. Connect emotionally
How can a group of people work so closely and so intensively if they don’t care about each other?
One of the most valuable aspects of our students’ union induction team development training is the personal values and principles workshop. It helps people understand their own drivers and those of others, uncovering shared passion points and moments of connection.
When you develop a deeper level of self-awareness about what makes you ‘you’ — and share that in a group — magic happens.
2. Set expectations early
The sooner a team defines its ways of working, the sooner it can start performing. Great Sabb teams should have an agreed team manifesto for the year ahead, detailing their dos, don’ts, and non-negotiables as a team.
3. Learn how to have hard conversations
One of my favourite sessions to deliver is ‘How to have hard conversations’. It’s a skills gap at all levels in many industries. Imagine what you could achieve together if you could navigate the tough, tricky stuff with ease...
A team that communicates openly and honestly is better equipped to handle challenges. Help your elected officers master active listening, constructive feedback, and conflict resolution to lay a strong foundation for collaboration.
4. Embrace radical transparency
As Students’ Union leaders, you set the tone. Create a culture where team members openly share their goals, fears, and expectations for the year. Addressing these head-on eliminates hidden agendas and builds a foundation of trust from day one. Trust, after all, is the cornerstone of successful teams.
5. Make decisions quickly, together
Establish clear decision-making processes. Know how and when decisions will be made, and embrace speed. Avoid wasting time on endless debates. Instead, set a rule: decisions are made collaboratively but efficiently.
Speed doesn’t mean recklessness — it means trusting each other to act decisively and iterate as needed.
6. Ruthlessly prioritise
I’ve worked with teams whose list of priorities would spill onto four or five pages. You can’t do everything in one year, so don’t try.
Choose three to five major goals, commit to them, and deprioritise or drop everything else. High-performing teams are focused, not scattered.
7. Momentum breeds momentum
Every milestone, no matter how small, deserves recognition. Create a culture of celebration where achievements fuel the energy to tackle the next challenge.
8. Out-plan the chaos
Students’ Union life is chaotic. Use weekly stand-ups, detailed project plans, and clear communication tools to stay ahead of the madness. Structure gives your team the freedom to perform.
9. Close the gap between staff and officers
I often run sessions with officers and full-time staff together. Finding common ground, compassion, and a shared sense of purpose ensures there’s no room for conflict or silos. Discover more on our training.
10. Develop individual strengths
Identify the unique strengths of your new team.
Sometimes we focus too much on weaknesses. Instead, aim to cultivate the skills each officer excels at — whether it’s presenting, generating ideas, or influencing stakeholders.
This approach helped me as an officer realise my strengths, and it can have a lasting impact on your team’s career trajectories.
11. Create a strong onboarding experience
The first few weeks are critical for setting the tone. A well-structured induction programme helps officers feel supported and confident as they step into their roles.
Things to watch out for
Even with the best intentions, teams can encounter challenges. Here are some warning signs to address early:
Dominance by a single voice: When one person’s opinion overshadows others, it stifles creativity and alienates team members. Teach the group how to collaborate with patience, empathy, and tact.
Lack of accountability: Without clear roles and responsibilities, tasks can slip through the cracks.
Resistance to change: Teams that cling to "the way things have always been done" may struggle to innovate. Call this out if it’s happening, especially with second-term officers.
Burnout: The pressure to deliver can lead to overwork and fatigue if the team doesn’t prioritise well-being. Provide tools and training to help manage this.
About our work with Students’ Unions
We do things differently... industry standard training, at affodable prices, designed to build high performing teams whilst building your teams modern skillset.
Our flagship support for Students' Unions is our one-day team development workshop for newly elected officers, blending the best of our experience with global brands and our work with Students’ Unions to create an unforgettable, long-lasting experience.
We can also deliver sessions with both full-time staff and elected officers together for a shared experience.
Get in touch for more information.