Integrations
29 January 2010
INTEGRATIONS
maya baltazar herrera
CHARITY
The term force of nature could have been invented for her.
I’ve been thinking about the “L” word again. It is beguiling and insidious, one of those
words that can spawn long-winded discussion. I suppose I have been thinking about it
because in the last three months, I have had to deal with all sorts of leaders. But,
mostly, there is this one story I really wanted to tell.
With Joy
Some time before Christmas last year, I was asked whether I would be willing to read a
literary piece on leadership at the installation of the new president of the Southeast Asia
Interdisciplinary Development Institute (“SAIDI”), Rose Fuentes. While they told me I
could choose something from existing literature, I knew that the expectation was for
something original. More importantly, I knew the expectation was that I would choose
something that was appropriate for the new president. The date was January, a month
that has always been tight for me. But I said yes. The school then asked me to present
a paper at a research forum a scant two days after the installation. Again I said yes.
Now, in order to truly appreciate this, you must understand that retirement plan valuation
work, which is a large part of what I do in my consulting, peaks in January. Furthermore,
I need to tell you that both events were to be held in the hills of Antipolo, past
Hinulugang Taktak falls. In addition, this January in particular would be tight as I had
already committed to presenting a research paper at a regional conference and at the
time not a word had yet seen paper. But I said yes.
January came along and, as expected, my schedule jammed. But I cheerfully spent the
time required in front of the computer and made the trek to Antipolo twice.
It required time and effort but it was a joyful thing. By the end of the conference, I had
been asked to commit to another paper and, again I cheerfully said yes.
Losing Stride
By contrast, my night reading this week is the Newsweek series of cover stories
concerning how badly US president Obama’s approval ratings have slid.
Three writers weighed in on what Obama needs to be doing differently. Fareed Zakaria
enjoins Obama to “stop legislating and start leading”. Zakaria’s analysis is that Obama
allowed himself to be sucked into the quagmire of politics, one that involves
appeasement rather than true solutions. Jon Meacham claims Obama has failed to
create a bond with his people, that he has failed to lead emotionally, that he has failed to
paint a clear vision for the future. Louisa Thomas, representative young American,
expresses her disappointment in Obama’s failure to engage the American people, that
he has not asked enough of its citizens.
Unsurprisingly, these are all things leaders in any organization must do if they are to
succeed. They must seek to find the right way, not the easy way. They must form a true
bond with their people, a bond born not just of cold reason but also of faith and trust and
inspiration. They must be able to harness the commitment and efforts of their people.
That is the heart of leadership, the creation of the relationship with followers.
Unwavering
There are leaders you follow gladly. They make following not just easy but joyful.
On that Saturday morning high up in the hills of Antipolo, with the brilliant morning
sunlight illuminating the room and the high clear notes of the sung responsorial psalm
drifting over us, I felt blessed. I thanked God that there are still people like this in the
world, not just the leader we had come to celebrate but all the people she had managed
to bring together.
The term force of nature could have been invented for her. Once she decides that
something is worth doing, she will not stop until she gets it done.
Rose has those qualities that make for a great leader, a passion so true it shines through
her like a beacon, a sense of purpose so strong she thrums with its energy, and a heart
big enough to contain her very large community.
The Chairman of the SAIDI board fondly describes her as unbendingly stubborn. I think
stubborn is the wrong word.
Rose begins with faith. When she decides on a goal, she puts her whole self into it; she
believes it with a passion. In an organization whose mission is to develop leaders, what
this means is that much of Rose’s passions goes into believing in her students and in the
larger goal of the institute. Rose’s commitment is born of personal purpose and of faith
in the possible. What truly sets her apart, though, is her very real concern for each
individual she interacts with.
In her message on the day of her installation, Rose said that her favorite biblical
passage was the one about faith, hope and charity. I know she may dispute this
because she is modest but I know that she does live out her beliefs. She believes and
her belief is rewarded. She challenges and her challenge is met. But the clear root of all
of her relationships, what explained all of those who gathered around her to help, is love.
It is like a flame, unwavering, warming and illuminating all of her relationships. She
begins by loving and is, in turn, loved back.
As every leader knows deep in his heart, reason is slow and fear is fast but love? Love
lasts.
Readers can email Maya at integrations_manila@yahoo.com. Or visit her site at
http://www.mayaherrera.com or http://mayaherrera.aim.edu.
