The
definition of leadership is simple. Its concept is comprehensible. It is
common. But there are deeper meanings in being a leader. It is not only about
having people to follow you or be under your authority. It is not only about
being in a position to do so. It is really more about being in a situation to
do so.
I
had a proverbial and literal "pantry talk" with an officemate. He
asked me if it would be okay with me if I can be his mentor. He explained that
he has observed that I want to be a leader and he wanted me to be a mentor to
him in the aspect of life and leadership. He said that people need mentors
because "No hermit has become rich." He wants to succeed in his
economic aspirations and would like to learn life lessons and principles to
help him do so.
He
related that a certain group of people invited him to a leadership seminar but
it was really a bait for their networking business. Then our conversation,
which we never intended to be long, was cut short by a phone call he had to
take. He asked to be excused and I told him we can just exchange e-mails.
This
conversation with my officemate gave me an inspiration to write down my
thoughts about leadership, mentorship and life. So here they are.
Leadership
is Situational
In
my own experiences, many times was that being a leader is called upon by the
situation. I was and is not really someone who goes out of the way to organise
something or actively pursue leadership positions. I am both proud and humble
to say that there were times when I assumed leadership positions or roles
because circumstances called for. There were times when I needed to be the
leader so that something can be done so that problems will be solved. Come to
think of it, leaders are called not for the sake of having someone to call a
leader but because one is needed given the situation.
Everybody
has the potential to be a leader. You do not need to be the oldest, or most
experienced, or most knowledgeable, or most educated or the most diligent
worker. You just need to have sufficient levels of these qualities and, more
importantly, the virtue to be capable of facilitating people and resources from
goal setting to carrying out action plans and reaching the said aims.
Mentorship
can Take the Form of Friendship
You
do not need to be a leader to be a mentor. Our friends can be our mentors. We
just have to select which of them and which of their qualities would we like to
learn and develop. I have learned to listen to everybody, especially my
friends. By listening, I mean learning lessons, imbibing the values involved
and applying them.
Life
is a Journey which Involves Learning and Application
It
has been a guiding principle for people that life is not the end point. It is
not the destination. This adage has helped address life problems which include the
stagnation, deterioration and loss of meaning in life. This means that for us to
live a full and meaningful life, we have to see life as a journey.
But
sometimes some people misconstrue this analogy as merely going through the
process of travelling through the course of life. Some people think that this
is their passport to leaving any situation and hopping from one phase in life
to another. Some forget that what is more important is facing the present
problems, solving them and learning from them. Then, when the right time to
really move on will come, we should make sure that we bring the lessons with us
and use them. At the same time, the life lessons we have learned we should apply
now.
