Whenever we stumble upon the word “leader”, a variety of images would come into our mind. It could be as mainstream as that of a political leader who’s running a cause for the good of the majority, or a ship captain who can hold the helm even if the sea is not calm, or perhaps a man who has turn his back from the crowd to lead an orchestra. The necessity of defining what leadership is may range from that of a national scale to as petty as electing a classroom officer in school. But conceivably the need for determining or identifying the essential qualities of a leader loom large in companies who are in dire need of hiring the best person who will take charge of the steering wheel and drive through the road of success even if it is a black velvet ribbon draped over the twilight hills.
So if you are a top-level manager trying to evaluate two persons vying for a particular high-rank position, I am doing you a little favour of saving your time of skimming the internet trying to figure out what qualities to look for in each of them. Here are the peculiar and essential characters which I believe they should possess:
1. Focus
If there is one thing common among top, middle and frontline manager that is the constant need to make important decisions. So, I cannot overemphasize the need for one to keep focused on substantive issues, regardless of how chaotic the circumstance is. Sometimes, going through one door must mean closing all others. If one will not be selectively receptive, trivial matters will drown the entire company.
2. Confidence
One must have an infectious silent confidence that screams loud. Apart from skills, confidence is also an unconquered army. If you’re presenting yourself with confidence, you can pull off pretty much anything.
3. Transparency
No one could be an effective team leader without earning the trust of his colleagues and one ticket to gaining that trust is transparency. Imagine a company with an upper management that is really transparent with everyone, that has this amplifying effect. The employees will be enticed to operate on the same wavelength.
4. Integrity
Even if there’s nobody who’s going to know whether you did it or not, a true team leader should do the right thing always. It has to be noted that our employees are a direct reflection of one’s values as a leader. You cannot expect your comrades to do the same if you can’t do it yourself.
5. Inspiration
In a corporate set-up, your team need your actions to inspire their actions. The inspirational leader should feel passionate about the vision and mission of the organization. They should also be able to share that passion in a way that enables others to feel passionate, too. Shared passion makes organizations soar in the accomplishment of their mission and vision.
6. Passion
Although there is a merit to the statement that we would all be remiss if we didn’t think that some kind of recognition for efforts and accomplishments didn’t make us feel good, a true leader should not only do it because he is being rated. He should work really hard because he is passionate.
7. Innovation
With the advent of technology, we cannot deny the fact that Innovation is now the central issue in economic prosperity. You cannot survive in business without at least a modicum of innovation.The leader must be a visionary who leads the organisation, and who can see opportunities outside the box. Not only that, that person must also have the ability to engender enthusiasm and innovation from the other members of their team.
8. Patience
A company’s dream will never be handed down in silver platter. A team leader must realize that things will be difficult first before it becomes easy. He must have the ability to wait and must possess the right attitude during the waiting game.
9. Stoicism
A true team leader must be able to foresee unexpected failures or unscrupulous enemies to avoid aggravating things further. One must make enough room for worst case scenarios so that things will not turn out into fatal resolutions.
10. Authenticity
A leader must not barter his courage to be his self for approval. This is one of the most precious commodity as a leader. He might pick up skills along the way, but he should never lose his authentic voice.
11. Open-mindedness
While it is true that a leader must have a concrete goal in mind, he must still be very nimble and very open minded. Sometimes success is going to be very dependent on how you are going to adapt. The true leader must not ask reality to conform to his blueprint, but he must be able to transform his blueprint to adapt to reality.
12. Decisiveness
For one to be a dynamic leader, he must realize that indecisiveness is the number one reason for failure. Lack of ability to make a decision in a timely manner will cause the company to fail with its projects and plans. He must from time to time identify the challenge and decide to no longer let it be a setback from their success.
13. Empowerment
A true leader should not fall into the pitfall of micromanaging his team. To build an ‘overachieving’ team, he must need to delegate responsibility and authority. Gifted employees are more likely to stay in a company where their capacities are given ample importance.
14. Positivity
It is inevitable that the team is going to go through tough times. But a good team lead must bear in mind that “Nothing happens to you, it happens for you.” He must see the positive in negative events. In that way, other team players will be able to draw strength from him.
15. Generosity
A leader must be generous enough to share the limelight with other team members. He must make it a point that he will be able to build up others and help them grow as individuals.
16. Persistence
He must have the quality that allows someone to continue doing something even though it is difficult or opposed by other people. This character of not being easily swayed paired with all other traits herein mentioned will turn hopeless failure to glorious success.
17. Insightfulness
A true team leader who had his character pruned throughout the years must be able to distinguish that which is really important from all the incoming fires.
18. Communication
There is also a need for a leader to be an excellent communicator. There is a constant need for him to communicate his expectations. One cannot blame someone of falling short of his expectation, if he has not openly expressed it to the team.
19. Accountability
Another indicator of a good leader is one’s capacity to own up to his mistakes and shortcomings. He must not point fingers when things don’t turn out as planned.
Sunday, April 21, 2019
Friday, March 1, 2019
GIRLS, HEED MY ADVICE!
Girls, heed my advice!
If there is that one person who is most deserving of all the love that you can give, that is yourself. So please give yourself enough respect by not settling for a mediocre relationship because you are lonely or the society dictates you to do so. Don't be thirsty for love just because you are trying to beat the clock.
We all deserve someone who will gamble everything just to know the smallest detail about us. Someone who will not judge us even if by chance we come out differently from what he expected us to be. Someone who even if he finds out how unlovable we can be sometimes, us being human, will love us just the same. Someone who will choose us every single minute of the day.
I would be candid with you, there were nights when I heard a thudding noise in my head urging me to desperately cry for help. It had been decades before I have outgrown that childish act of mine. But since I have gotten out of that limiting belief already and I want you to experience the unparalleled liberating feeling I felt, here I am in bended knees trying to convince you that the reason you are feeling that way is because you are trying to fill a void in you and that is by all means unhealthy.
Let us vanish the notion that we are supposed to find someone who will complete us because the truth is we first have to be complete on our own before we can attract the right person whom we can celebrate that wholeness with.
So while we are waiting for that unmatchable kind of love, let us first be content in treating ourselves out in a sumptuous dinner, let us learn a new skill or engage in anything else that will make us the person we wanted to spend our whole life with.
If there is that one person who is most deserving of all the love that you can give, that is yourself. So please give yourself enough respect by not settling for a mediocre relationship because you are lonely or the society dictates you to do so. Don't be thirsty for love just because you are trying to beat the clock.
We all deserve someone who will gamble everything just to know the smallest detail about us. Someone who will not judge us even if by chance we come out differently from what he expected us to be. Someone who even if he finds out how unlovable we can be sometimes, us being human, will love us just the same. Someone who will choose us every single minute of the day.
I would be candid with you, there were nights when I heard a thudding noise in my head urging me to desperately cry for help. It had been decades before I have outgrown that childish act of mine. But since I have gotten out of that limiting belief already and I want you to experience the unparalleled liberating feeling I felt, here I am in bended knees trying to convince you that the reason you are feeling that way is because you are trying to fill a void in you and that is by all means unhealthy.
Let us vanish the notion that we are supposed to find someone who will complete us because the truth is we first have to be complete on our own before we can attract the right person whom we can celebrate that wholeness with.
So while we are waiting for that unmatchable kind of love, let us first be content in treating ourselves out in a sumptuous dinner, let us learn a new skill or engage in anything else that will make us the person we wanted to spend our whole life with.
Sunday, January 20, 2019
OPENING A BUSINESS: DO WE EARN OR SPEND MORE?
(Goodpage Weekly Editorial)
Despite the Philippines being an agricultural country, a hefty number of high school graduates are enticed to take up business courses more than any other.
This might be the result of intensive campaigns for Filipinos to try entrepreneurship—resulting from the motivation that most of those who get rich are not the academically-gifted, but the street-smarts.
This idea devoured so many Filipinos to the point that business wannabes are not only those who completed business courses but also dropouts, and professionals who chose to shift careers.
On the other end, it is in the government's best interest to keep the economy healthy by, among all other things, ensuring an encouraging environment for small and large businesses. Included in the list of government interventions intended to uplift new entrants are tax incentives, creating multiple money streams, and providing a big data hub.
However, it is apparent that government interventions have not been enough to stave off failures in operating a business. This holds true among those who engage in the micro and small category—those who have to secure a loan to finance their ventures.
In Ormoc City, more than 1,000 new businesses opened in January 2018. Ten months later—October—about 300 right away applied for closure, unable to contain heavy losses wrought by competition, and low sales, stiff government control measures—and utter lack of buying capacity among potential customers.
While government appears to intensify its drive to promote investments, stringent control measures imposed by it are actually among the main reasons why businesses flop just as easily as they pop up.
When someone opens a store, for example, one of the most nagging difficulty is building regulations—setback, occupancy documents. You fail in one of these and you fail in everything.
So the question now is simply whether the emphasis is really on motivating would-be businessmen, or exuding a “pildi-gana” stance by luring them into pouring investments at the start of the year—and pushing them to a forced shutdown at the end of the year.
(Credits to Sir Rene De Los Reyes for editing)
Despite the Philippines being an agricultural country, a hefty number of high school graduates are enticed to take up business courses more than any other.
This might be the result of intensive campaigns for Filipinos to try entrepreneurship—resulting from the motivation that most of those who get rich are not the academically-gifted, but the street-smarts.
This idea devoured so many Filipinos to the point that business wannabes are not only those who completed business courses but also dropouts, and professionals who chose to shift careers.
On the other end, it is in the government's best interest to keep the economy healthy by, among all other things, ensuring an encouraging environment for small and large businesses. Included in the list of government interventions intended to uplift new entrants are tax incentives, creating multiple money streams, and providing a big data hub.
However, it is apparent that government interventions have not been enough to stave off failures in operating a business. This holds true among those who engage in the micro and small category—those who have to secure a loan to finance their ventures.
In Ormoc City, more than 1,000 new businesses opened in January 2018. Ten months later—October—about 300 right away applied for closure, unable to contain heavy losses wrought by competition, and low sales, stiff government control measures—and utter lack of buying capacity among potential customers.
While government appears to intensify its drive to promote investments, stringent control measures imposed by it are actually among the main reasons why businesses flop just as easily as they pop up.
When someone opens a store, for example, one of the most nagging difficulty is building regulations—setback, occupancy documents. You fail in one of these and you fail in everything.
So the question now is simply whether the emphasis is really on motivating would-be businessmen, or exuding a “pildi-gana” stance by luring them into pouring investments at the start of the year—and pushing them to a forced shutdown at the end of the year.
(Credits to Sir Rene De Los Reyes for editing)
Thursday, January 17, 2019
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT COURSE
Students, as much as I wanted to acquaint you in my class with ways on how not to commit the same mistakes I or people of my age had committed, I am being halted everytime I remember that we have so much to finish within a very limited time. All that being said, I am caught in total despair that if I cannot do that inside the classroom, may be in some other medium. So here I am writing in wee hours of the night all for your consumption.
I think I have to begin by saying that I made more memories in High School than I did in college. That is for me not to invalidate your feelings or fear of parting with friends whom you have shared all your peaks and troughs with. That's normal. Pretty normal. To console you, I guess it pays that I mention the fact that I still have most of them in my life now and I cannot describe the pain in the stomach we get everytime we talk about all the memories we've made in high school. But my dear, you cannot look back if you haven't gotten too far yet. And you can only continue journeying after making one important decision. Do you already know what I am talking about? To stop you from guessing, let me disclose it---CHOOSING THE RIGHT COURSE!
I cannot overemphasize the need to figure it out as early as now. After all nothing is more frustrating than realizing that what you have worked on for so long is not actually what you really wanted. Yes, it is a decision that can impact your entire life. I'm not saying I regretted the path I took, because if you know me well enough, I need not convince you that I do not. What I am saying is, I know a lot of people who did. And I don't want you to be just like them.
Having been to your shoes I know it is not as easy as changing your tassel from right to left. So, I have outlined some things to consider in choosing the right career path.
1. DISCOVER YOUR NATURAL BENT. Although there are several exams that will help you gauge what are you more inclined in, I still believe that no one else, not even your teacher, can determine what you can do without lifting a finger except yourself. This can be something that you are born with or perhaps you have developed over the years, you being a product of your environment. While there is a merit to the statement, hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard, I still believe that If you naturally possess the abilities needed for a particular course you are at an edge compared to those who do not have it. Learning will be a lot easier, trust me. You will need a shorter time to study. Remember, in whatever endeavour you are into, time is always a limited resource. You may begin shortlisting the options you have, then research or ask around about what are the necessary competencies in that particular course.
2. PICTURE OUT YOUR VISION. Just like a company that's trying to start up, you need to answer the question how do you see yourself in the long haul. Only when you know what your end goal is will you be able to lay down the steps on how you are going to achieve that. It is like developing an action plan. For example if you want to be a public servant then a course that may effectively prepare you to becoming a lawyer will suit you. For some, this vision might be a childhood dream.
3. FINANCIAL CAPACITY. It's a pity that there are some that need to forego all of the choices they've made earlier just because of this. But I have made this the last because I believe this is the most important. There were a lot who were forced to drop out from school just because they could no longer continually finance their college education. But just because you might be confronted with this doesn't mean to say it's the end of it. It is also in this aspect that there could be a myriad of possible ways. For example, you can apply for scholarships. If you're brave enough not to give up on what you really wanted, you can juggle work and school all at the same time.
This is not me being all-knowing. I am not smarter, just more experienced.
I hope you gained clarity out from this article. But just in the very event you fail to make the right decision, just remember that you can always make the decision right, if you truly will.
Be careful what you wish for because in the end, Success might be just like the attic of the house, the topmost part but generally the most empty. So while its imperative for us to feel the need to labor so hard to be successful, I think to bang away to be happy is also of paramount importance.
I think I have to begin by saying that I made more memories in High School than I did in college. That is for me not to invalidate your feelings or fear of parting with friends whom you have shared all your peaks and troughs with. That's normal. Pretty normal. To console you, I guess it pays that I mention the fact that I still have most of them in my life now and I cannot describe the pain in the stomach we get everytime we talk about all the memories we've made in high school. But my dear, you cannot look back if you haven't gotten too far yet. And you can only continue journeying after making one important decision. Do you already know what I am talking about? To stop you from guessing, let me disclose it---CHOOSING THE RIGHT COURSE!
I cannot overemphasize the need to figure it out as early as now. After all nothing is more frustrating than realizing that what you have worked on for so long is not actually what you really wanted. Yes, it is a decision that can impact your entire life. I'm not saying I regretted the path I took, because if you know me well enough, I need not convince you that I do not. What I am saying is, I know a lot of people who did. And I don't want you to be just like them.
Having been to your shoes I know it is not as easy as changing your tassel from right to left. So, I have outlined some things to consider in choosing the right career path.
1. DISCOVER YOUR NATURAL BENT. Although there are several exams that will help you gauge what are you more inclined in, I still believe that no one else, not even your teacher, can determine what you can do without lifting a finger except yourself. This can be something that you are born with or perhaps you have developed over the years, you being a product of your environment. While there is a merit to the statement, hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard, I still believe that If you naturally possess the abilities needed for a particular course you are at an edge compared to those who do not have it. Learning will be a lot easier, trust me. You will need a shorter time to study. Remember, in whatever endeavour you are into, time is always a limited resource. You may begin shortlisting the options you have, then research or ask around about what are the necessary competencies in that particular course.
2. PICTURE OUT YOUR VISION. Just like a company that's trying to start up, you need to answer the question how do you see yourself in the long haul. Only when you know what your end goal is will you be able to lay down the steps on how you are going to achieve that. It is like developing an action plan. For example if you want to be a public servant then a course that may effectively prepare you to becoming a lawyer will suit you. For some, this vision might be a childhood dream.
3. FINANCIAL CAPACITY. It's a pity that there are some that need to forego all of the choices they've made earlier just because of this. But I have made this the last because I believe this is the most important. There were a lot who were forced to drop out from school just because they could no longer continually finance their college education. But just because you might be confronted with this doesn't mean to say it's the end of it. It is also in this aspect that there could be a myriad of possible ways. For example, you can apply for scholarships. If you're brave enough not to give up on what you really wanted, you can juggle work and school all at the same time.
This is not me being all-knowing. I am not smarter, just more experienced.
I hope you gained clarity out from this article. But just in the very event you fail to make the right decision, just remember that you can always make the decision right, if you truly will.
Be careful what you wish for because in the end, Success might be just like the attic of the house, the topmost part but generally the most empty. So while its imperative for us to feel the need to labor so hard to be successful, I think to bang away to be happy is also of paramount importance.
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
GLINT OF INTENTION
"The Untold Story why I almost abandon my Dream to become a Lawyer"
So, I am reminded....If I had not stopped, I am now only a year away from Law School Graduation.
If anyone gets to be asked, their initial reaction about me stopping would probably be that I was a fool for quitting. I don't know why, but the fact that it had been my childhood dream was a reason not strong enough to fuel me to keep going. Yes, I almost fell into the pitfall of believing just as the people esteemed. It had even gone too far in making me believe that Lawyering is not my cup of tea.
Given I had all the resources needed, people kept wondering why. But, every time they will ask me, I couldn't give them a definite answer. I would always end up fabricating stories. What will they expect from someone who herself was devoid of the exact reason.
I didn't know my random decision to re-enroll would turn the tide. Learning had been a lot more easier for me this time. Evening classes became an idea I always look forward to.
In my pursuit to understand why, I have searched for reasons in every corner of my heart until I reached the realms of re-examining my intentions.
The first time I enrolled, I thought it was because I have dreamt to become one even before I have learned to pronounce the word. But no, I remembered during the interview before admission, I have disclosed that what made me decide to further my studies was the fact that I was thinking it could be a way for me to redeem myself after all the frustrations I had in college. So, there. I was able to trace where all those rooted from. I was driven by my desire to look good that is why learning became more of a burden to me.
It's just funny how I find pleasure in going to class now. Now that I no longer feel the need to be validated. Now that I finally believed I am done proving myself. Now that I embrace the thought that I am enough.
I guess what spelled the difference is that now, the only reason I'm left with after all the limiting beliefs about myself disappeared, is I should because....KNOWLEDGE IS KEY and Education is a privilege denied to many.
So friends, heed my advice! Whatever you are up to, always check your intentions. After all, your intention creates your reality.
If I had it my way, I'd still take the longer route.
So, I am reminded....If I had not stopped, I am now only a year away from Law School Graduation.
If anyone gets to be asked, their initial reaction about me stopping would probably be that I was a fool for quitting. I don't know why, but the fact that it had been my childhood dream was a reason not strong enough to fuel me to keep going. Yes, I almost fell into the pitfall of believing just as the people esteemed. It had even gone too far in making me believe that Lawyering is not my cup of tea.
Given I had all the resources needed, people kept wondering why. But, every time they will ask me, I couldn't give them a definite answer. I would always end up fabricating stories. What will they expect from someone who herself was devoid of the exact reason.
I didn't know my random decision to re-enroll would turn the tide. Learning had been a lot more easier for me this time. Evening classes became an idea I always look forward to.
In my pursuit to understand why, I have searched for reasons in every corner of my heart until I reached the realms of re-examining my intentions.
The first time I enrolled, I thought it was because I have dreamt to become one even before I have learned to pronounce the word. But no, I remembered during the interview before admission, I have disclosed that what made me decide to further my studies was the fact that I was thinking it could be a way for me to redeem myself after all the frustrations I had in college. So, there. I was able to trace where all those rooted from. I was driven by my desire to look good that is why learning became more of a burden to me.
It's just funny how I find pleasure in going to class now. Now that I no longer feel the need to be validated. Now that I finally believed I am done proving myself. Now that I embrace the thought that I am enough.
I guess what spelled the difference is that now, the only reason I'm left with after all the limiting beliefs about myself disappeared, is I should because....KNOWLEDGE IS KEY and Education is a privilege denied to many.
So friends, heed my advice! Whatever you are up to, always check your intentions. After all, your intention creates your reality.
If I had it my way, I'd still take the longer route.
Sunday, January 13, 2019
2017 MISS ORMOC: REACTION
The first runner-up, Miss Niña Sherra Tagalog was my bet at the start of the competition. In my opinion, she had been the most beautiful among them.
But I think Carla Meneses, the newly crowned Miss Ormoc, deserves the crown more than anybody else. If my memory served me right, she was the only contestant who was able to give a definite answer to the finale question, "How do you describe a Modern Ormocana?"
I cannot remember how she worded it, but she exclaimed that Ormocanas are resilient as manifested in how they stood up again after all the trials.
That was exactly the answer I was expecting from them. Truly, not only are we a city of beautiful people, but also a home of brilliant minds.
If I was one of the candidates I would have answered it this way.
"For me, I can compare a modern Ormocana to that of a phoenix. It being a symbol of death and reborn. Many times Ormoc had been a victim of a series of unfortunate events. We all know how devastated we were after the Ormoc Flash flood and the typhoon Yolanda but with grit and tenacity we are standing strong today."
TEACHING AS MY AVOCATION
Before I became one, there was not a time I dreamt of becoming one. In fact, I had often questioned my Mom's love for it. I often tell my students how accidental my becoming a teacher was, that there are times I think of going somewhere else to look for a greener pasture, but I guess the wrong train took me to the right destination. Day by day I became grateful of how teaching served as an avenue for me to tell my students the things which I wish I was telling my younger self if only I had the chance. I am thankful that through teaching somehow in the four corners of the classroom I am in, there is that one student whose life has never been the same because she had the chance to know me. The list could go on. But above all, I am grateful for because of teaching I need not work even a single day in my entire life. Truly, there is no such thing as greener pasture. I am where I am supposed to be. I should bloom where I am planted.
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