CHARMIE DUNGCA ARRIBE, MD
LEADERSHIP
FINAL PAPER
INTEGRATION OF LEADERSHIP LESSONS
This leadership class has equipped me with new know-hows that I could not even think I would discover. It had opened my awareness to tons of skills that I can use in managing my career, my business, my family, my life. Most especially it taught me COURAGE and all the other virtues that go with it. I would like to acknowledge Professor Saguinsin who untiringly thought out of the box to motivate us in this core subject, he inspired us to become better leaders.
COURAGE ON SELF-AWARENESS
"Other people's perceptions are your reality." – Victor Font, The Journey to Authentic Leadership
It takes COURAGE to willingly know one's own strengths and weaknesses and acknowledge that they are real. It is said that self-awareness is the single most important leadership attribute.1 In the process of introspecting my defining moments in life, I came to recall the events and experiences that moulded me to what I have become. These defining moments made me hope for the coming experiences and as I was being inspired by my fellow leaders in this class it is not only to where I am heading but it is the journey that I should enjoy, the climb!
It took COURAGE to take the enneagram test and a lot more to discern on the result. I was a personality 3 with a wing 2, a motivator/achiever and an aggressive-approval seeker (which I wanted to contest when I did not understand the totality of the enneagram idea) but as I was discovering the personalities and understanding that each personality has a stress and security point and that the enneagram teaches self-understanding, I was enlightened and I began to "know" me more. My enneagram description for a 3 was a person who is eager, responsible, goal-oriented, persistent, organized, "doing rather than being", highly competitive, looking good is important, fears rejection, efficient with wing 2 stating that I can still take on the feelings of others seemingly somewhat describes the real me. I believe that the test gave me self-worth and until the present day I am now conscious of my words and actions making me a better person, a better leader at that.
My genogram showed me where I mostly got my COURAGE from to face the world head on. The genogram helped me appreciate my past and made me look forward to a better future. My father reminds us to always "pay it forward" and that our children should be an improvement of ourselves (or their parents). I came from humble beginnings and I appreciate the hard work and the love that my forefathers put in our family. I also rediscovered the hurts and pains some members would have been carrying thus becoming the reasons of some strained relationship which in a bigger picture seemingly very petty. As my fellow leaders made me realize that the real reason of all our endeavours and in facing all the challenges of life is in fact our own family.
COURAGE ON ACKNOWLEDGING INFLUENCES & EXPERIENCES
The External and Internal shapers…
Paulo Coelho once said, "People never learn anything by being told, they have to find out for themselves."
The environment that nurtured me and that had influenced me most was my family in my Angeles City home. It was my Dad, Mom and 3 siblings that taught me that no matter what happens and whoever judges me differently or indifferently, they were there and they were my rock. My parents struggled to put us to good schools with their mind set that we have to have good influences and to dream bigger than they did. My mentors became very influential to how I deal with challenges. They taught me how to develop my competence and compassion as to being a clinical practitioner and an academic teacher. They taught me how to recognize strengths and help accept weaknesses. They taught me how to persevere and become benevolent. I am very grateful of the trainings that I have gone through and I know that I will not tire learning new things along the way. My work experiences are also venues of learnings and self-discovery it is through them that I have become a better doctor, lecturer, advocate, servant-leader and most especially it is through my work that I have become a better wife and mother.
It was said that persona is our outward manifestation while character is our essence the core of who we are (our values, beliefs, purpose, vision). Introspection and reflection made me realize that what I personally value as a leader are the virtues of humility, discipline, perseverance, benevolence, justice, integrity and compassion. These are the things I want to improve in my own being. I believe that with these I will leave a legacy of being a good leader and I want to influence these virtues to my students, patients, relatives, friends and especially my children whom God entrusted me to shepherd well.
COURAGE TO FOLLOW ONE'S PASSION, ADVOCACIES & TO BE HOPEFUL ON FUTURE ENDEAVORS
Our class reflected on the song "The Greatest Love of All," and our dear professor even highlighted some of the song's messages and he made the song sound even meaningful. The song didn't merely talk about loving children but it sent messages about loving oneself and believing and hoping. It spoke of living what you love and not merely on taking another one's shadow, it tells us to shine!!! My leadership journey in class made me realize a lot of things about my passion and advocacies and it opened more doors of opportunities as I was able to convey to 26 great leaders what I needed others to hear about what I love to do most. I have witnessed their passion and advocacies as well, and it did inspire me to live my life for others and for the environment. My being a teacher and a breastfeeding advocate will definitely continue and I will pursue spreading this culture beyond my community. And I will now also be a warrior for education, for fight of poverty, for love of family, for passion to travel, for keeping the environment greener, for fighting for justice in our technology, for going against corruption in whatever form it is. This subject gave me an opportunity to become a steward, a pathfinder and I hope someday a game changer like my boss, Dr. Alfredo RA Bengzon, who is one of my inspiration in terms of vision and dreams. I am on my way to becoming an authentic leader with clear and crisps decisions and as I continue my journey of learning, I will definitely keep all these nuggets of knowledge in my heart and mind and in practice. I would like to quote Mr. Steve Jobs on one of his graduation speeches done, he said: "Keep looking don't settle!"
COURAGE TO LEAD AND MAKE DECISIONS
This class taught me the importance of a good decision making by making sure that I identify my weakest link and strengthen it. That to arrive at a brilliant decision I have to consider all six components: 1. Frame, 2. People, 3. Process, 4. Alternatives, 5. Values and 6. Information3
It challenges me to be a tactful decision maker yet one who is not afraid to take risks as outcomes are not easily seen, predicted nor measured. It taught me how to balance logic with intuition especially in times when quick and critical decisions are needed. It presented us the different types of organizational decisions like "inclusion vs efficiency," "empowerment vs. control," "rule vs method," and "head vs heart." With this knowledge we are equipped to seemingly make better decisions but I wanted to add that the power of prayer and discernment for me is key. I always ask for this gift whenever I need to make critical decisions in any of my life's aspect especially the kind like the "two-choice dilemmas" for leaders. I would like to remember the nugget that: if it is to be a decision, there needs to be an action.
Commitment is the key to becoming a good leader and a god decision maker at that. Commitment gives your followers a sense of confidence that no matter what you decide you stand by it and more likely be with them no matter what. Commitment takes COURAGE. Let us not forget that a true leader reads the signs of the times and gets updated with how to deal with challenges be it in economic or technical upgrade at that. A leader should not tire learning new things in order to keep up with the times and with his/her constituents. A leader should not all be technologically savvy but at least technologically ready! Keep up to date, keep abreast.
I would like to share to everyone the things I learned in this leadership class and I look forward to applying what I have learned in my future challenges in life as a leader and as a responsible individual. These 10 commandments of authentic and inauthentic leadership may be remembered by the readers.
10 commandments of authentic leadership:
1. Be bold
2. Be upbeat
3. Know what's going on
4. Tell stories
5. Act
6. Collaborate
7. Seek out ideas of others
8. Try new things
9. Remain calm
10. Plan
10 commandments of Inauthentic Leadership3
1. Be reluctant
2. Point out what is wrong
3. Be ignorant
4. Recite dry facts
5. Wait
6. Do it alone
7. Know it all
8. Stick to tried and true
9. Blow up
10. React
As this is just my third subject, with the rigorous trainings, staying-up late to complete requirements with group mates, all-night "viber" conversations on opinions to get a project done, I truly appreciate the bond that this class has formed between me and all these inspiring leaders. The team building was truly inspiring, it made us be open and be more "personal" with each other in a way helping us grow as one. It inspired us to inspire one another to finish the journey. But as most of the AVPs music had said there may always be battles and mountains to conquer but it always will be memorable if we remember that what matters is the climb!
Hats off Professor Jorge Saguinsin. I am Leader Charmie Dungca-Arribe. 3
1 Pfizer Leadership Survey 2010-2011 (The Journey to Authentic Leadership by Victor Font)
2 Hoffberg, Kevin and Korver, Clint: Leadership and Decision Making.
3http://www.slideshare.net/hnyungi/how-to-be-an-authentic-leader?next_slideshow=3
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