A 1 Business Leadership

Leadership subject at AGSB is an Ateneo advantage. It emphasizes leadership from within, authentic leadership. One of its pillars is love. This is odd in a cold steely corporate world. The others are heroism, ingenuity and self awareness. The goal of leadership is not only to develop oneself but to clone other leaders. Everybody has potential to be leader. What we do, even if we do not have followers influences/affects others. It is time to define Filipino leadership too

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Call to Arms Speech by Leader Dr. Zel Catungal

LEADER ZEL CATUNGAL

Introduction:

I have been a Training officer and Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine of Angeles University Foundation Medical Center. It was a fulfilling experience despite my busy and demanding practice as a nephrologist. I am proud to say that I have been an inspiration to my residents and even prouder because I was involved in their training. A lot of our graduates have become Diplomates of Internal Medicine and some even are into fellowship training. The experience I learned from our Leadership class broadened my view of being an Authentic Leader. If given the chance to be invited to deliver an inspirational speech, this speech is inspired by the teachings of Ignatian Leadership.

EVENT: GRADUATION OF MEDICAL RESIDENTS

INVITATION: DELIVER INSPIRATIONAL SPEECH

Mr. President, members of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Chairman, Dr. Training Officer, fellow physicians, parents, friends and guests, a pleasant good evening. It was not too long ago that I just like you, was seated and listened to our speaker then. During that time, while half listening, half day dreaming, I told myself, "someday, I will be the one delivering that speech". How time flies, now here I am delivering this speech to you. Of course it was not only a dream, it was actually a life's journey. We know your journey started long time ago. From the moment you decided to be a doctor and the moment you chose to enter residency training. It was not easy, right? It was not easy since most of your batch mates in high school are either inviting you to their wedding or house blessing while you are still the single in the batch or struggling to pay the rent of your small apartment. Not to mention the so many sleepless nights attending patients but not enjoying the privilege of overtime pay of regular employees. It was a very long journey but you survived! Congratulations! But your journey is not even half way. Your journey starts from knowing yourself and creating the LEADER within you.

During my senior year at St. Luke's Medical Center, I was appointed the chief resident. While most would have wanted and aspire it, I was actually reluctant to accept it since during that time I was married, had a 3 year old daughter and pregnant with my second child. I told our chairman, Dr Romeo Divinagracia, a well respected cardiologist, about my apprehension but he just told me that I will be a good chief resident because he sees me then as SUPERWOMAN! Wow, it was a defining moment for me. I accepted the challenge and proved that he was right. We doctors are considered superHUMANS by our friends, family and patients. We are HERO and let's strive to prove this. But strive not just a hero, but a HERO LEADER.

. Let me share the Leadership lessons I learned from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business. The Ignatian Heroic Leadership consists of Self-awareness, Ingenuity, Love and Heroism. Start by knowing yourself, know your weaknesses, strengths and maintain your values. Doctors are supermen but are human emotionally and spiritually. By knowing yourself, you can give more for your patients. Know your weaknesses and do something to make them your strengths. I was once asked by a patient a question I was not able to answer to a point that we argued, I told him, I am not a computer and I showed my weakness, I was impatient, somehow rude and I forgot that this patient considers me as superwoman, more than a computer. That incident made me realize a lot of things. Keep them believing were superhuman so that we can have their trust and respect their illness and innocence. The second component of heroic Leadership is Ingenuity. Medicine is a very dynamic field. Enrich yourself. Don't stop today during your graduation, go out and learn more. Adapt and embrace the changing world. Attend conferences, CME/continuing medical education; ask questions from mentors, read journals, learn from your patients. Too little knowledge is dangerous and can be deadly. Third, practice with love, TLC, total loving care. Exude each day with a positive loving attitude even faced with a hopeless terminal case or death. Lastly, be a hero always. Be a health advocate. Children usually imitate their hero. Let us learn from children. Practice what we teach. If you advise your patient to quit smoking, start from you. Eat healthy. Try not to be overweight. Educate first yourself before educating your patient. They look to you as hero, prove them you are.

Let me also emphasize the three essential triad of Leadership. Character, Competence and Purpose. For the past several years you have invested on becoming what you are now. You are now here today because of your desire to be competent. Today will be the start of your purpose. No journey is considered complete without a purpose.

A mentor once told me his journey as a specialist consisted of 4 stages: struggle, survival, investment and lastly leaving a legacy. I have almost reached the first three; I am now with the last and most important one, to leave a legacy, a purpose. And the legacy I chose is to be a servant healer < wow >. Being a healer, a helper, and a servant leader. I am starting with my journey with this legacy. I know just like the three stages it won't be easy but for sure it will be the most fulfilling.

I hope I inspired you tonight. Have a pleasant evening.