Leadership
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Simple Ways to Balance Work, Life and DECA
Balance does not mean doing everything perfectly. It means finding a routine that helps you stay organized, communicate clearly and take care of yourself.

DECA Seniors: The Home Stretch of High School
As college decisions hit inboxes, the temptation to take a step away from academics and extracurriculars is real. But for a DECA senior, these few weeks can serve as a launchpad for your future success.

Women’s History Month: Empowering Future Female Leaders Through DECA
Through exposure to Career and Technical Education, the next generation of impactful women is equipped with the knowledge, experience and confidence to make a positive impact in our community.

You’re an Association Officer! Now What?
Whether you’re stepping into your role as an association officer right away or preparing to begin soon, you are about to embark on a journey that will shape your leadership skills, how you see yourself and your potential.

Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Why Women in Business Must Keep Going
Through organizations like DECA, young women gain the confidence, skills and resilience needed to pursue leadership and continue the work of creating more equal opportunities in business.

5 Tips to Help You Stay Productive
Balancing schoolwork, DECA and other extracurriculars is challenging. There are so many distractions around you that prevent you from focusing on your work. Here are 5 tips that will help you stay on track!

From Vision to Verity: How to Stay Consistent with Your 2026 Goals
As we begin February, many New Year’s Resolutions fade into wistful aspirations instead of life-changing habits. Here are some of my favorite tips for keeping consistent when the New Year’s sparkle wears off.

5 Things I Learned as an Association Officer Outside the Classroom
Beyond the metrics and milestones, my greatest takeaways have been the lessons I learned along the way. Here are the five things that I definitely learned in DECA outside of the classroom.

Resolutions to Results: How to Set and Achieve Goals
Resolutions are long-term goals that require planning, habits, positive and realistic thinking. In this article, you will learn how to set and achieve your personal goals to become your ideal version of yourself SMARTly!

Soft Skills: The Skills that Set You Apart
Every successful DECA member has one thing in common: strong soft skills. You may not see them listed on a role-play feedback sheet, but they are what truly separate good competitors from great ones.

New Year, New Me: Crafting Your 2026 Personal Brand
The start of the new year is a great opportunity to shape your personal brand. Here are a few tips on how to start the year off on a strong note.

Where Commitment Meets Leadership: Inside Association Office
Association officers play a huge role in shaping the DECA experience for members by supporting initiatives and representing DECA with professionalism and heart. Let’s take a closer look at what being in association office is really like!

4 Steps to Better Budgeting
“Where did all my money go!?” If you find yourself asking that question at the end of every month or in the days before your next paycheck, it’s time to get your budget in shape. Don’t have a budget? No problem! It’s easy to get started.

How to Keep Your New Year's Resolutions
Looking back on years past, did you keep your New Year's resolutions? Do you even remember what they were? Here are some ways to keep your New Year’s resolutions all the way through 2022.

Rules to Live By: The Nature of Ethics
When you think of ethics, what comes to mind? Doing what people say you should do? Obeying the law? While these can both be part of ethical behavior, it takes a lot more than just listening to authority figures or doing what’s legal to be an ethical person.

3 Ways to Handle Burnout
Have you ever experienced a case of burnout? If so, it can be a challenging experience. During the school year, we take on many responsibilities and may find it hard to balance work, academics and life with so much on our plate. It is important to find a way to take a break and rest–both physically and mentally–to avoid burnout.

3 Ways to Sharpen Your Leadership Decision-making Skills
Have you recently taken on a new leadership position? While many perks come with the role, more responsibility often means increased pressure to make the best possible decisions.

3 Leadership Activities to Jump-start Your New Team
An important part of team building is supporting your teammates and learning their individual leadership styles. Check out these three ideas to help your new team hit the ground running!

5 Business and Leadership Books That Should Be on Your List
Throughout my academic career, I have found that a good book is hard to beat. I can honestly say that certain books have even changed my life—everything from basic tasks such as how I make my bed, to greater things like the way I think and process information.

Watch Now: Executive Mentor Roundtable on De-stressing
Check out DECA’s Executive Mentor Roundtable on “De-stressing." Two executives share how stress—good and bad—plays a role in their everyday lives and offer tips and tricks to help you manage your stress in your personal and professional life.

5 Gears for a Healthy Lifestyle
Let's face it: being an emerging leader is not easy! We’re supposed to get good grades, be involved in our community, excel in extracurriculars and gain job experience. So, how can we manage it all? Read on the learn about the Five Gears!

DECA Direct Magazine: De-stress
Between school, volunteering, extracurricular activities and DECA, there’s never a shortage of things to do! Learn how to hit pause, slow down and discover the best ways to manage your stress.

5 Apps to Ease Your Stress
Looking to beat bad stress? Rather than endlessly scrolling through Instagram or stress-shopping on Amazon, turn to these apps to breathe, play and move your way to less stress!

Build Better Habits (and Break Your Bad Ones!)
Having the right habits is more important than ever as you navigate a busy school year. Read on to learn how you can create better habits in any area of your life, plus our tips and tricks for getting rid of your bad habits for good!


