Sharpening the Saw

So started my “crusade” to deliberately become a better leader.

Although I have been thrusted into several leadership roles in the past, never did
I lead with intentionality nor did I evaluate or reflect on my performance as a leader. I
merely led my team or my class to comply and perform the responsibilities and duties
that came along with the position.

This time, it was different. I was in search of opportunities to be a leader not for
fame or honor but because I wanted to learn more about the intricacies of leadership
and management. And when there were no opportunities around, I created the
“opportunities” or urged my bosses to approve some project or plan where I will be able
to lead a group of people to accomplish something worthwhile.

By this stage of my professional journey, I was already enrolled in law school

where freshmen were invited to join law fraternities or sororities. I decided not to join
any organization. Instead, I tried on the helm as Class President in our sophomore year
– that crucial year when two (2) freshman classes are combined into one (1) class after
about 50% of freshmen population flunk or drop out of law school by the end of the first
academic year. Looking back, I think I did a commendable job at unifying the two
distinct group of students into a cohesive team who won in the annual inter-batch
competition of talents.

While doing an “on-the-job” training on leadership in law school, I was devouring

several books on leadership to balance theory and practice and simultaneously leading
a small group of people in the workplace as the alter-ego of a City Councilor in the
legislative branch of the city government.