VALUE-BASED LEADERSHIP: AN INTROSPECTION
MELINDA S. DAYAO
A true leader is not defined by his position or designation; he is distinguished by his works and actions. Many times we are deceived by the achievements of people around us that we often believe that these will make them great leaders. We allow them to pave the way only to realize that their brilliance is wanting. We are left wondering what is lacking in their leadership.
The leadership seminar spearheaded by the Pampanga Association of Secondary School Head Teachers gave us an opportunity to pause and reflect on our values as head teachers in carrying out our duties as instructional leaders. The amazing truth is revealed right in front of us by our speaker, Mr. Jorge Jose Maria C. Guilas. His discussion on what really matters to us as people is simply enlightening. We are brought back to the importance of knowing what makes us really happy. Do we get it from having good careers, fancy cars, big houses or multi-million bank accounts? To some, initially this may seem so but these will never be the gauge of true happiness. Real happiness is achieved when we have good relationship to others and when we are able to use our talent, time and treasure in the service of others.
If we are going to scrutinize the lives of great leaders in history, we will discover that all of them displayed selfless devotion to humanity. All of them believed in the basic goodness of people. All of them fought for the rights of others. All of them lived their lives for others. Thus, we can come to the conclusion that being a leader is dedicating one’s life to others. Agood leader does not allow his position to be used for self-serving interests. He always thinks of the welfare of the majority most especially the poor, the powerless and the needy. As educators, we can apply these on our students by always believing in their worth and considering their future in making decisions. Let us start to be value-based leaders by hiring teachers not because we know them but because we know that they will be good teachers possessing the right attributes and the needed dedication to contribute to the growth and development of the learners.
Integrity, humility, simplicity and generosity are some of the values discussed by our resource speaker that are needed if we want to be steward, shepherd and servant leaders. The same traits were modelled to us by the greatest teacher we had, Jesus Christ. He humbled himself and even died for our sins. As leaders, whenever we are leaving the path of uprightness, we can just simply ask, “Where is the following of Christ?” This can awaken us to go back to our calling as value-based leaders.Let us not grow tired serving our students. We may not reap the fruits of our labor here on earth but surely if we follow the teachings of Christ, we will receive what is due us in God’s perfect time.
As I continue my journey of serving the youth as a head teacher, I am hopeful that I can truly adhere to the values I have lived and those I have learned from this seminar. I am confident that the values cultivated in me by this training will make me a good leader who creates influence and inspiration in my work place. I may have always been silent as a worker but I never kept quiet when it comes to the right things in life. I may have not reached the zenith of success measured by this world but I am always reaching out to do something for the greater glory of God.
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The author is Head Teacher III at San Carlos San Luis National High School