Servant leader
Challenging is too anemic to describe what my colleagues and I had to go through. Everything was prepared well in advance, almost a year from the last annual convention. Attendees, organizers, invited speakers, and partners in the industry had made all the necessary arrangements. Everything was neatly in place and all that was left was the final execution. At the very last minute, we were told that the venue was no longer available. It was a logistical nightmare and threw everyone off-balance.
Knowledgeable about the significant costs incurred and the considerable time and effort invested by the society and the host institution in ensuring that the scientific event would be relevant, the majority agreed that postponing the event was not an option. We didn’t have the luxury to dwell on unwanted emotions that come from being reactionary. Left unspoken, what was needed was a clear and single-minded focus to provide an acceptable, alternative plan. What followed was an unexpected tutorial on crisis management and a much-needed wake-up call to analyze ourselves as individuals. How well do we cope with change and are we willing to conform? Are we contributors to solutions or do we create more problems?
Going through the process was painful, but the lessons learned and relearned could serve anyone well, if willing and committed to be a lifelong student. No one has a monopoly on thoughts or words. Most of these are the ones you already know.
Lesson#1. Be a selfless and true leader. Given the above scenario, it is tempting to be reactionary. For those who have been involved in potentially combustible situations, you are very much aware that keeping calm and composed does not come easy. Learn to filter matters that are trivial, inflammatory, and nonbeneficial to the group’s well-being. People look to you for guidance. Having the clarity of thought to objectively assess the situation and come up with a solid plan will help steer the team in the right direction. As the leader, you have the capacity to inspire or dishearten. Set the stage for an honest and respectful exchange of opinions and give credit to whom it is due. Work closely with your members and always look out for their best interests, including their physical and emotional health. In a highly stressful situation, one needs to provide a steady hand. Last but not least, one must remember that in accepting a position of authority, there will always be instances wherein you will be carrying out unpopular decisions. Have the courage to be disliked. You are not running for an election or a popularity contest.
Lesson #2. Learn to delegate. Asking for help does not make you any less of a person. No one is destined to be in a leadership position forever, nor is anyone indispensable. There will always be people who can take on your job and your responsibilities and might even be more efficient than you. Give that chance and opportunity to others. Relinquishing your hold is the best compliment to acknowledge their capability and their being responsible enough to take on the role you are to vacate. As early as now, start your succession planning.
Lesson#3. Accept that not everything is under your control. For those who are used to getting their way or being in command without question, this was a perfect example. Concentrate and focus on matters that need attention and for which there are solutions. Sometimes, even when provided with answers, things can still go wrong. Think about all the technical difficulties that have made events less than ideal.
As I get older, I am becoming a little better at accepting that problems have a way of resolving on their own. You just have to make peace with this. As Father Orbos loves to remind us, just believe, trust, and surrender.
Lesson#4. Do not dwell on the negative. When we were thrown a problem that was nearly impossible to solve, we had a choice to make: to either sink or swim. Knowing that we had a job to fulfill, there was no other way but to move forward. Confident in the capability of our leader and committed as a team, we were able to overcome the challenge of change. As unbelievable as it may seem, our being faced with such a crisis managed to bring out the best in each and every one of us. Prepared for the worst, we got the unexpected bonus of learning that not only were there available options for conducting a convention, but more importantly, that everyone can have the capacity to be the bigger person in the most trying situations. In a world that is steadily on a downward spiral, experiences such as these restore your faith in the goodness of people.
Have a blessed and holy week.
