LEADERSHIP: Must-have Qualities of a Leader and Aspiring Leaders (Plus Notes to Company Owners in choosing people to Lead)

There’s this line from the movie Spiderman that I love the most: “Great power comes with great responsibilities.”

I find this very, very true.

I grew up volunteering myself as a leader whenever given a chance. Until I came to a point where, I got tired of all the b.s. and run away.

I came to a point of admitting that I do not have the right qualities of a great leader. –yet.

So, I decided to pack my things and move my feet with the hope of finding myself a sensei who will teach me how. –Lucky me. I found one.

What I learned from this person is both a surprise and not. Actually, I realized that I took leadership the wrong way that I ended up lost in the wrong thought of the whole leadership thing.

So, with this note, I would like to share what I’ve learned from the greatest leader I now know.

What is Leadership?

We often get “Leadership is the art and science of leading a group of people, directing, controlling and giving commands to achieve a common goal” as the answer to this question.

And yes. That is true.

But if we dig deeper as to the real meaning and purpose of leadership, what do we get then?

None. There’s no real and definite answer to that.

Why? Because if you are really born to lead, you’ll sure end up realizing what leadership means to YOU.

Leadership is influencing individuals and groups of people to move with their best efforts to achieve the highest possible peak they have for themselves. –the common goal will be achieved afterwards. Because there’s no such thing as achieving group goals without achieving individual goals first.

So, what do I mean by this?

A leader, must have a great sense of self-direction first before being able to lead many.

Remember: A lost soul can never lead another lost soul. They’ll end up, well, both lost.

Aside from self-direction, a real leader must have the following qualities:

1.       The Brain: Knowledge is power. –they say. I sincerely believe that this is true. I know that it will take a great deal of thinking when you are leading yourself –and others. So, it is very important for a leader to have a healthy brain and sense of thinking in order to come up with plans to deal with many responsibilities. So, the saying “The Leader is the Head of the group.” is literally true.

2.       The Heart: When you are a leader, your followers look up to you not just as their leader, but as their mother (or father) as well. In a more cozy setting, you are either the group’s big sister or brother. This means, being the “All-Knowing-Walking-Google-Bitch” is not enough. Aside from the ability to lay out plan of action, a leader is also required to have the heart (conscience) to be able to tailor fit any course of action based on the group’s (or individual’s) current situation. And when I say current situation, this means a leader’s approach should not just be based on superficial events. –but non-superficial too.

Okay, this may take more explaining as I thought it would. I can also use the word “Sensitivity” for this.

A leader must have enough sensitivity in order to come up with achievable plans for the group. One good example is this scenario:

-Scenario 1-

Case Study: Reproductive Health

Mission: To provide alternatives for the effectivity of RH / Family Planning

Situation: 3 of your group members are devout Roman Catholics who oppose alternative methods

Tendency: If you’re the type of a leader who ONLY uses your brain, you’ll end up imposing the results of your research as the general findings and stand of your group without any consideration of your group members’ background. Which will lead to forced stand.

You just forced 3 of your group members to take your stand they don’t personally believe in. They cry themselves at night afraid that their souls will burn in hell because they were forced to take a stand opposite to the teachings of their faith. In church, they suddenly distanced themselves to their church friends. Ashamed of the fact that they were forced to participate in a case study where, they could’ve given their own additional alternatives to the alternatives based on their personal opinions and teachings, if only given a chance. –If only you were sensitive enough to ask your members’ take on the case.

-Scenario 2-

Office Situation: Over-time pay

Background: Your subordinate asked you to sign his overtime slip. You refuse to sign it and said; “It’s part of your job. Why would you file it as overtime? You shouldn’t. You should love your work to the point that working extra hour should be treated as reflection of your love for work. Look at me. I stay here overtime. I work more than 12 hours. I stay late here because I love my job. You should to!”

Result: Your subordinate went home to his family. His wife is very angry at him and suspects he’s having an affair because he stayed late at work. His youngest daughter asked if he was able to grab a treat on his way home. He said he couldn’t because he doesn’t have the money. His eldest son asked for money for a school project. He was forced to give the money he had left on his wallet that he saved for his transportation. On their fridge (that doesn’t work), he saw a disconnection notice from Meralco. And oh! His wife is 2 months pregnant to their third baby.

Your subordinate earns P16,000.00/mo. –net.

While you earn P30,000.00/mo. – and you don’t have children to send to school because your children are old enough and are working too. Surely, you love your job. Everyone is happy for you. Congratulations!

Being a leader doesn’t only call for a brain that knows everything. Being a leader also calls for a person who has the heart to put his/herself in other people’s shoes. The sensitivity to know people and look at them not just as followers but family too. The passion to help people to do better not just as an employee, but a person.

Wew! That was long! But not as long as the time I have to spend to be able to realize that. J

3.       The Maturity: Not the age.- the psychological and emotional maturity (google: EQ). There’s no such thing as a perfect leader. Nope. That’s just impossible. Master Oogway was great! But he was a turtle. And he’s a cartoon character. So, No. there’s no such thing as a perfect leader.

Maturity and Adaptability. Maturity in knowing that people are different and respect individuality. The ability in making mature adjustments for people of age, race, culture, tradition and backgrounds. –among other things.

Maturity in leadership is the ability to take on all covered and uncovered duties with strong sense of responsibility. The ability to make sound decisions based on the group’s collaborative effort. And the ability to take ownership of the results or consequences of actions taken.

Maturity is the ability to know when to stand as the lead authority and when to let your followers take the lead.

Maturity is the ability to take criticism constructively and not take it as a personal attack or attack on your delegation.

-Scenario-

Situation: Subordinate Suggestion

Background: Your subordinate had been asking you about the plan specifics for an upcoming event. He had been asking you for two weeks now because he needs to finish all the schedule plot to avoid system over-rides. Two weeks passed, you didn’t gave him any update on the event. Then 1:34 A.M. of the day of the event, you asked him to plot a schedule for 2 personnel. You knew schedules are plotted for 2weeks because of the Scheduling system. A single change on the plot would require re-work on rearrangements. Not to mention, system over-ride. Your subordinated plotted everything upon your request. It required him to do everything all over again. Your subordinate then sent you a message: “Dear Leader, I’ve arranged everything just as you requested. Please note that schedules are plotted for 2week-basis. In the future, if you wish to have an arrangement for any events, kindly let me know in advance to avoid system overrides. I’d appreciate it very much. Thank you!”

Which you replied with: “Okay. Next time, you do my job if you’re that good.”

Your subordinate was tempted to reply: “Sure! Quit your job and let me take your place and I will prove you that planning is easy if you schedule everything correctly. And if you have plans for upcoming events, you could at least give a suggested plot to work on as Plot Template 2.”

-he thought about it but he didn’t replied to your message because he was more mature than you.

The next day, you gave everyone in the office bars of chocolates.-aside from your subordinate who plotted everything at 2:00 A.M. and who will spend the whole day correcting all the system override all because of your poor planning.

You knew he love chocolates. So, middle finger goes to you for excluding him! And middle finger goes to you for being a bully! And middle finger goes to you for misleading everyone with your smooth talks. They don’t have any idea. You’re just another wanna-be who can’t fully deliver your false-promises.

4.       The “Selfless” Mentality: A leader doesn’t have to know everything. It is never required for a leader to have all abilities known to man. Therefore, a leader should be selfless in a sense that he/she should not take everything for his/herself.

This is something people often mistook about leadership. That a leader must have all the qualities required of the job. –Wrong!

Only really great leaders know, that they don’t have to stick their heads on everything to gain everything. All they need to do is to have the smarts to choose the right combination of people to deliver the best job there is.

If you want to be a great leader, choose people who are way smarter that you. People who are willing to go the extra distance for you. People who knows how to dance to any rhythm. People who are willing to get theirs hands dirty. People who are willing to sweat. People who are willing to crawl. People who knows how to have fun!

A great leader is the one who knows the flow of action is not centered or focused at him/her. But on the people he/she was able to build up. The one who knows that people are the center of everything. Not him. Not her. –but the people.

A great leader is the one who acknowledges the need of his/her people for supplementary nourishment. Someone who knows how to share his/her knowledge to everyone. Keeping in mind that well-informed, and well-equipped soldiers make the best army.

5.       The “Sharing” Mentality: see number 4. This is just an additional. Please share that potato chips you have inside your drawer. You’ll never know the magic a bag of potato chips can make to people and relationships if you keep that bag all for yourself. Share the obesity factor. Thank you!

6.       The Confidence: Not self-confidence. –but the confidence in others. I’ve met lots and lots of talented leaders before. Leaders who are not afraid to face people, tell them what to do and so on. Self-confidence for people born with the talent and the smarts is not so hard to achieve. It is innate. But confidence in others, now that’s something any leader has to work on. The confidence that even if you don’t lift a finger, or say a word. You just know your followers will do the act. The confidence in your people that they can deliver a great job. The confidence in others that they can do it with or without you. The confidence that you place in your people’s hands that they will not fail. For the essence of leadership, is actually creating new leaders.

You can’t call yourself a leader if you can’t even trust your people to do their jobs. Taking care of things on your own doesn’t make you a great leader. Helping people become dependable and reliable. –that’s what makes you one.

Hindi leader ang tawag sa mga tao na walang tiwala at nangbi-baby sa subordinates nya. Lola ang tawag dun. Malaki ang kaibahan ng dalawa.

7.       The “Just” Mentality: A leader must show and reflect justice and fairness in all aspects. Having pets are normal. But as a leader, you of all people should know that paying someone more favorable attention compared with others does not and will not help anyone in your group. It would only promote insecurity, envy and unhealthy competition.

8.       The General’s Dignity: covers the ability to stand for your people. To represent them.

Ever wonder why generals still fight in battle along side their soldiers? Because in the battle field, a general is no different to a soldier. Whatever battle your soldier is going through, you should be there, fighting with them. Leading the way. Taking charge.

You shouldn’t call yourself a leader if you do not have the guts to step up and speak up for your people.

“Nagugutom na yung tao mo. Ni hindi mo sila mabigyan ng tinapay. Tinatapak-tapakan na sila, ni hindi mo sila maipaglaban. Bakit ka pa nandyan kung wala ka naman palang silbi? Hala. Umuwi ka nalang at maghugas ng plato!”

9. The NO-BULLSHIT-ATTITUDE: As a leader, you are required to be sensitive in handling your people. but don't get this wrong. too much sensitivity can sometimes result to sugar-coating. instead of giving your people the real score, you end up giving them false hopes that everything's okay even when it's not.

You can still be sensitive without compromising honesty. when time comes your team needs to perform, give them the right expectations. never mislead them.

if things aren't working the way they should, them let them know. -they deserve to know the truth.

if you can't give them the assistance that they need, then be honest and let them know you need help.

if someone from your team misbehaves, give them the right to explain why they acted that way. -if it's unreasonable, then give them the discipline they deserve.

Never mislead your team in believing you got everything covered for them. -you can only try.

Wag paniwalain ang mga tao na sandalan ka nila, kung anytime, very willing kang ilaglag sila sa mga alanganing sitwasyon. nakaka-bullshit yon.

Notes to Company Owners in choosing your Leaders:

I have given you a list of qualities of a leader in addition to the cliché requirements. This shall make it easier for you to make appropriate decisions with regards to choosing or promoting people to take on leadership positions.

I just want to add the “Don’t choose” part:

1.       Don’t choose people who prioritize work over family. –frankly. You think you hit the jackpot when you hired or promoted someone who prioritize work because you see them as business grower. NO! You’re wrong. They are robots who doesn’t have life (if not living a miserable life). They are fast workers, always at the office, stays late at the office. –yes. But not because they love their job. It just happened that they don’t want to be at or have anything to do at home. Or outside. That’s why they’d rather spend their hours working.  

Then they got used to it so much that they led themselves into believing that they love their job. They are the kind of people who always says “Yes sir.” “Aye, Sir!” “I’ll do it.” etc. They work. But they don’t give you the best results. They work. But they don’t deliver excellent job. Why? Because they don’t have a life! Workaholics are not the most motivated people at the office because they lack inspiration. They are the type of people who makes the office vibes negative.

They are the black-and-white only people. They are the kind who only sees what’s wrong. They rarely acknowledge great work by other people. They look at smart subordinates as competition that they have to kill as soon as possible. They are lifeless, colorless people. Imagine life without yellow! Green! Blue! Pink! Imagine. NO Pink!!!

Your office will be such a sad, sad place to work in. People will work, yes. But not because they love what they do, or who they work with. But because they need to have the money to feed their families. –and that’s that. 90% of workaholics are like what I’ve mentioned above. You rarely meet a workaholic person who smiles with so much life!

2.       Don’t choose people just because of their loyalty. I don’t know. But it’s been a Filipino culture to promote people just because they stayed with the company for so long. And companies often give promotion to a higher level position as a reward.

WRONG!

Promotions should not be treated just as a reward. -But acknowledgement of Great Work done by a person. Promotions are for people who work their ass off for the benefit of the company. For people who handle 5-man jobs. People who handle multiple works all at the same time. Promotions are for people who reflect and perform the right qualities. People who actually walk the talk.  People who goes above and beyond the job description to deliver results.

The thing with promoting people just because they stayed with the company for so long is that it gives the impression that as long as you stay, you’ll get promoted. So just stay. That’s all you need to do. Even if you don’t perform well, as long as you stay, you’ll be a manager. Even if you don’t have a right qualities, as long as you stay, you’ll be the department head. Kahit tanga ka pa, magiging mataas ang katungkulan mo. At kapag mataas na katungkulan mo, wala ka nang gagawin. Tititigan mo nalang computer mo at magpapanggap kang busy ka. Kunwari, may ginagawa ka pa. kapag wala si boss, mag gupit ka ng kuko every-other day. O kaya mag bunot ng kilay. O uban. O uban sa kilay.

Rewards system is so sick that it gives power to the wrong people to command effective, talented people.

The result: Talents, wasted. Smarts, wasted. Soon, those talented and smart people will become weary and tired being led by the wrong leaders. If they are brave, they’ll pack their things and leave. If they’re afraid, sad thing. They will grow old having the same mind set as those people whose names appear on the upper level of the ladder. –another tragedy in the making.

Note: Giving power to the wrong people. That’s the biggest mistake any company or company owners can make.

Same goes to the government. Come 2016, same cycle will take place. –unless we change the habit.

3.       Don’t choose people who just tells you stuff. People will tell you anything you want to hear. Especially if you have the money, the means, the power. Business is politics. And you will be surrounded by politicians who will feed your ears with beautiful lies. You will give in, of course. Because what they say is so nice that they make you believe they are your savior. Feel free to give in. –if you’re weak. But, if you still have strength, run! If you have the smarts, then, out-wit them! These people are the kind of people who will play strings to get what they want from you. So, beware.

These are just raw realizations on leadership. My views are still subject to change. I’m still looking for great influences who can help me balance my perspectives.

Most people will say that it’s difficult to find people with the qualities I’ve mentioned.

It is very difficult. Yes. –but not impossible.

I am very fortunate that I was able to find 3 people who have the qualities I have mentioned. I would love to become the 4^th.

Goal set. I’m on the move.