On Monday the 22nd June 2009 we were all gathered together with the purpose of learning more about leadership. We had a wonderful opportunity to have prominent leaders in various fields come share with us their wealth of knowledge in the subject of leadership. What became manifest was the coexistence of what may be termed a universal truth about what leadership is, and wisdom about leadership that is borne out of experience; the latter resting on the dimension of a normative, personal nature. Our speakers were able to balance both.
Being an introvert, it was profound to discover that a leader can also fit that category, dispelling the rather common notion that an introverted leader must work at improving himself to become an extrovert, the latter being praised and upheld as superior to the former. Indeed it was a very important realization that one can be able to differentiate between weaknesses and attributes, so that one can acknowledge himself and work towards goals that matter, improving on actual weaknesses, excelling on strengths, and embracing the spirit of working in a team that compliments and covers the individual weaknesses. In the case of an introvert, it is being wise enough to place forward those with utterances when need be, without feeling incompetent. Nevertheless, one also needs to differentiate between an attribute and fear, lest one shy away from challenges to nurse fear.
There were indeed many other discoveries such as the existence of different leadership styles and the discovery that leadership is and should be a lifestyle.
What was more needed above and beyond the discussion, however, was the actual application of leadership. Fortunately, a day itself is never short of presenting one with challenges that call for a leader to make decisions and take action. It often takes a leap of faith on one’s principles.
No later than a few hours after our leadership seminar, had there been a simple test of all we have learned throughout the program thus far. While waiting for an exceptionally long time for the red line metro to come, and seeing that it was almost midnight, it became apparent that we needed to explore other alternatives to get us all home. One of us went outside the metro station to make a necessary call for us all, but in a few minutes the long-awaited metro came. For all we knew that might have been the last metro, it was late, we are tired, and the dilemma arose at that point where we had to make a decision whether to enter the metro or sacrifice it and wait for the other member outside. We were exhausted. The night itself was unpleasant because of the accident that had happened at the metro earlier that afternoon. But we waited, and watched the metro ebb away from us, but we still waited. When society is at the fast lane, pursuing all forms of interests, we also had an interest in that metro. But we waited because we had to move together, and this spoke of the kind of leaders we have in SAWIP, leaders that cannot separate leadership from sacrifice. The situation spoke volumes of greater challenges to come that are going to challenge and stir those values we professed to embody at the selection camp. And baby steps lead to marathon athletes. The test might seem small, but it was so important. And by standing on our core values, we died to ourselves for the greater good. This is so key in eradicating corruption among our leaders across the globe. Leadership, sacrifice…but it’s a bit more; may I call the last cumulative ingredient “things”?
And we did find a metro; we all got home safely, being better leaders than we ever were, and growing…