From One Editor to Another

You walk into yearbook once again. Only this time, you’re the editor-in-chief, so you need to settle in quickly while the rest of the class chats over the sound of the bell. You have taken on new responsibilities that require leadership and dedication, but giving your peers vision and direction still feels weird, right? 

That’s how I felt when I served as the editor-in-chief at Liberty North High School. As a junior, I didn’t know how to lead or make decisions for a classroom of more than 30 friends. I especially didn’t know how to lead students older than me. Public speaking terrified me, and I was hesitant to give designers any kind of critique. 

I trusted my staff completely. But my staff needed me to trust myself with the same confidence I had in them. I returned to the EIC role for my senior year, ready to become the leader my junior-year self would be proud of. From one editor to another, here are some practical leadership skills you can develop to become a stronger editor for your staff. 

1. Fail fast

Yes, I am telling you to fail. I feared the word failure more than almost anything until I learned to embrace it. I didn’t have any editor-in-chief experience before taking on the role, so I had to learn the position while doing the job. Of course, I hit hiccups along the way. I struggled to balance the workload. I couldn’t make adaptable decisions when coverage went south. I walked on eggshells, never knowing the next right move. 

So yes, during my junior year, I hated failing. And yet, I failed plenty of times. My adviser believed in me enough to let me do it all over again senior year, and I am grateful for that. By then, I expected roadblocks. I still didn’t know when they would happen, but I no longer feared failure. If everything in yearbook went smoothly, I wouldn’t believe it. Yearbook is chaos, and you’re the leader who gets to embrace it. 

2. Get to know your staff beyond their deadline assignments

By the end of my junior year, I realized I still didn’t truly know half of my staffers. The new reporters were trying to imagine themselves as designers or copy editors, but they only saw a detached leader who focused too much on the book. I had forgotten the special community that grows in the yearbook room. 

Whether you lead a staff of five members or 50, connect with each person. That might seem overwhelming to add to your yearbook duties, but you can start with a few simple steps. 

• Go over their writing or design draft and give yourself five minutes to chat about something other than the deadline. 

• Let yourself chat with classmates before the bell rings. Remember, you’re still a student yourself. 

• Does your staff host deadline nights, workshops or other gatherings outside of yearbook class? Encourage all staffers to join and use that extra time to find a balance between connection and productivity. 

3. Understand what is yours to do

One of my biggest faults as an editor was thinking I needed to do it all. Yes, you oversee the book from beginning to end, but your staffers hold specific positions for a reason. Lean into your staffers’ strengths and set healthy boundaries around the work you assign yourself. 

I’m not saying you should make the editor role a walk in the park, but if you catch yourself pulling one too many all-nighters to finish your workload, reevaluate future deadline assignments. 

4. Trust your staff

Now that you know your job, trust your staffers to do theirs. I felt the need to micromanage every spread, which probably made the reporters and designers feel like they no longer owned their work. Here’s what helped me trust my staff during senior year and let their skills shine. 

• Lean into their talents. I had one staffer who was social media savvy but wasn’t interested in transitioning from reporter to designer. Our staff wanted an Instagram account for marketing purposes, so I created the social media manager role for her. 

• Be patient. When staffers step into their roles for the first time, they need time. Everyone will experience writer’s block or designer’s block. Encourage them and offer inspiration, but don’t rush their creative thinking process. 

5. Remember your why

You became the editor of your yearbook for a reason. Your adviser trusts you to create this book and lead your peers. You know what it takes. In the middle of high school, with the deadline staring you down, you can easily forget what this is all about. You might have a different “why” than I did. From one editor to another, building confidence as this year’s leader means remembering the big picture and the importance of what this publication brings to your school and community.