Time and time again, our country gets besieged by political turmoil,
lawlessness and conflict.
Today, we see this archipelago of 7,000 plus islands heatedly – even crazily – polarized by concepts and philosophies that are determined by colors their advocates wear.
Some wear orange, some wear yellow, some blue, some green, and some wear other identifiable tints and dyes.
One of the grievous mistakes we Filipinos commit is that, instead of a well-defined and proven life principle, we are enticed, lured, and sometimes deceived, to blindly follow fancy colors that please our eyes and physical bodies.
Since the days of our forefathers proceeding to the golden era of Rizal, Bonifacio, Luna, Mabini, Del Pilar et al, our people have been vainly searching for a genuine leader with exceptional qualities to take us out of the playpen of ignorance, imbecility and indolence.
Great executive leadership today is (mis) defined as the “absence of weakness” instead of the “presence of vaunted wisdom and strengths.” The bandwagon mentality is created when political hysteria, created by a well-organized media hype, about a rising heir sweeps over the land.
Arguably, leaders are born. But recognize also the truth that leaders can be made.
Warren G. Bennis wrote: “The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born – that there is a genetic factor to leadership. Myth asserts that people simply either have certain charismatic qualities or not. That’s nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.”
One unimpeachable example is Abraham Lincoln. Dubbed “Honest Abe,” he was a mere CAFGU-like para-military leader of a small band during his younger years. He lost all his political tussles in the ensuing seasons but never gave up.
Studying law and reading under the lights supplied by burning wood in his fireplace inside a log cabin, Lincoln rose to become the President of the United States of America. This happened at a time when the Americans were deep into a civil war.
His exemplary executive leadership earned for him the label “The Great Emancipator.”
Thus, we are constrained to believe that a leader possessed of weak leadership skills will also reap and generate poor results. Conversely, a leader having exceptional leadership skills will harvest good exceptional results.
As explained in classes that teach motivational and inspirational ideas: “Big minds achieve big results. Small minds achieve small results. Big, positive minds achieve big, positive results.”
Ergo, extraordinary leaders, compared with merely good leaders, must possess key strengths to make a big difference in the lives of ordinary citizens, most specially those belonging to the grassroots. Their decisions, actions and pronouncements create a lasting impression in their cerebral makeup, impacting on their lifestyles, habits, culture and ethical behaviour.
Our people have been buffeted too long by the winds of indifference and numbed by the under-achievements of each and every administration that Filipinos have turned a blind eye to the destructive effects of corruption, government neglect and mediocrity.
For a long suffering nation, being a good leader is not good enough.
One must rise to super star performance. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) God bless the Philippines!
