CLO the abbreviated acronym for Corper’s Liaison Officer is the highest ranking Corp member who leads in supervising, directing and coordinating the Corp members in a local government or in a particular community.
The duties of the CLO are vital in assisting the Local Government Inspector (LGI) in carrying out his duties. Some of his duties might include notifying the LGI of available PPA’s in the area, assisting in clearance process, helping in menial jobs useful to the LGI, monitors and reports the activities of the Corp members, leads in the registration of new Corp members and similar duties like that.
As much as there are benefits that every Corp member can enjoy the benefits of the CLO seems to be more surpassing.
Note that the principles highlighted here applies to any leadership position you are privileged to have during service year.
What are these benefits of becoming a CLO or any leadership position?
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Inner Respect
There is this aura of great sense of pride and satisfaction that comes with every accomplishment and that is no different at the time when you realize now that you are the CLO in your local government.
You begin to realize that your new position would increase people’s expectation of you and that would prompt you to act in high regard in conduct, attitude and demeanor. The outward expression of appropriate character is only possible through the inward feeling of respect.
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Leadership Skills Development
Becoming the CLO would certainly improve your leadership skills. The duties and roles of the CLO would challenge the leadership ability in you and make you better.
There would be instances when you need to appear before a crowd of Corp members, give directions, organize and control them. Due to the difficulty involved in leading a people, your patience, your thinking tank, your cooperative spirit, and your standard of morality would all be tested which would inadvertently increase your skill level.
In the workforce a leader must make management skills second nature to him. A leader would have to supervise operational tasks, make budgets, prioritize workloads and carry out other executive duties. With the training that being a CLO can give you can learn to develop a very vital skill for the workforce.
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Public Speaking Development
Another important benefit of becoming the CLO is the art of developing your speaking ability.
Public speaking is a vital part of any leader because he has to always speak to group of people, negotiate where necessary, and interact with people when working, and in other daily duties.
In the job market today there are many situations that would bring you into speaking to a diverse group of people about your organization’s mission and goals. These you would need to do with a lot of confidence and poise which can be acquired by being a CLO.
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Raising Up Your Business Network
How does being a CLO raise your business network you may ask. With the close association with the Local government Inspector (LGI) you are already building a rapport, if well harnessed can be a chance to meet more people on the same level with him or even higher. Apart from the LGI you are going to be in contact with other senior government workers in the local secretariat which can easily increase your business network.
These people and the connections you get can give you opportunities to go for different high factions where you can also meet other high-profile figures. Building relationships with these people can yield valuable personal and professional contacts.
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Boosting Your CV
Imagine a CLO going on an interview with someone else that has similar level of education, qualification and abilities, but was not a CLO during his service year, who do you think the company would likely pick? Surely it is the CLO because most companies need someone who is a team player; someone has leadership abilities and can easily coordinate people to achieve set goals and objectives. A CLO’s experience in this regard would certainly be an added recommendation or advantage for him. A certificate is always issued to him to recognize his position which can always be submitted during job application.
Companies and employers recognize the role and efforts involved in becoming the leader of a group of people and they respect the initiative it takes to head a group. With leadership experience on your resume, you’re more likely to get the attention of a hiring manager. A student leadership role is also a great talking point during interviews.
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Earning Menial Income
They are small opportunities for the CLO to make earnings during the course of duties. Although most of the means might be illegal but they are generally the crumps of money that enters his pockets now and again. Some of this money includes small payment for registrations, bribe from ghost Corpers, tips from Corp members planning to travel and the rest.
The LGI would sometimes be moved to give him something in appreciation for his efforts once in a while. All these contribute to the little income he gets which can be a bit of a motivating factor.
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Sense Of Fulfillment And Satisfaction
It is satisfying to realize you are doing something that makes you happy, something that brings happiness to others and something that brings you respect and honor from others too.
The confidence that you acquire can give you the feeling of fulfillment and the motivation to do more challenging task in the future.
In the world of employment everything is all about confidence which can express itself from an expression of fulfillment and satisfaction in life.
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Developing New Talents
The duties of a CLO require that he learns one or two skills that he may not have known before. Some of these skills may include taking records, financial accounting, files documentation and its arrangement, taking inventories and things like this.
This new role and the task involved can be challenging but the talents you can learn can give you experience in carrying different multi-tasking duty of a being a manager in a company or organization.
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Developing Negotiation Skills
Corp members and CDS groups in different local government carry out different projects during their national service year. Most times these projects are done collaboratively with all CDS group in the area and which might raise conflicting interest between the group’s goals, needs and projects.
CLO’s need to learn to establish priorities and learn to compromise when necessary when dealing with different CDS groups in the attempt to bring these groups into accepting and willingly supporting the project.
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Respect From Colleague
At the time you rise as the CLO, people perception and regard for you changes. Fellow Corp members recognize that they are under your authority and would inherently be moved to show you a higher sense of respect.
If the CLO is involving, active and successful these respect would increase and would be done willingly without grudge or doubt. Even outside official duties a CLO would be recognized and his honor duly accorded. Due to the high regard, other Corp members can easily approach them with challenging task and opportunities.
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Hone Problem Solving Skills
A CLO’s role demands that he his multi tasked to take care of his personal life and that of other Corp members. The demanding task in his hands challenges him to develop his problem solving skills and his creativity. In addition to the overwhelming task he is expected to still keep everything in his life in balance.
The skills acquired in the exercise of the role of CLO can become very useful in carrying future jobs, family responsibilities or in serving your community.
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Art Of Taking Responsibility
A CLO must realize that by extension he is held responsible for the welfare of all Corp members under him. He is to ensure that they are at their PPA’s, are to follow the due procedure when travelling, are to be available at general meetings, are eligible for payment of allowance and to ensure the follow all the codes of conduct laid down by the NYSC.
If for any reason the life of a Corp member is in danger or in trouble he would be involved in answering for their whereabouts.
In the job market such high sense of responsibility is expected of leaders. Leaders aren’t only responsible for themselves – they also have extended responsibilities that affect a wide range of people. Leaders of a group must not only make sure that tasks get done, but that all members of the organization are performing to the best of their abilities. If someone doesn’t follow through on a task, leaders make sure that, ultimately, the task is completed. The responsibilities of a CLO can be a lesson on how to hold on to being accountable.
My dear Corp members the act of becoming a CLO is indeed a privilege. Endeavor to aspire for it and you will be glad you did. Thank you for being here again on your No. 1 NYSC media blog.