LEADERSHIP CHALLENGES FOR THE YOUTH TODAY

Learning Objective: At the end of the module, the students should be able to define what a
leader is and what leadership is, enumerate the functions of leadership,
explain the principles of leadership, observe the skills of a good leader,
and compare the difference between a leader and a boss.

Content:
I. Introduction
A. The Filipino Youth
B. Provision in the Constitution
II. The Art of Leadership
A. Leader and Leadership Defined
B. Functions of Leadership
C. Principles of Leadership
D. Guidepost for Effective Leadership
E. Guidelines for Effective Leadership
F. Skills of a Leader

PART I. THE YOUTH

Characteristics of a Filipino Youth

15 to 30 years old ( as stated in Republic Act No. 8044 on Youth in
Nation Building Act)
Mentally and physically fit
A dreamer
Has a strong drive to fulfill his dreams and uplift his status in all aspects
as well as those around him

The Filipino youth comprise more or less 40% of the total Philippine population. If there
are 80 million Filipinos (latest survey, 2003), then there are at least 30 million Filipino youth in
the country. In 2007, the projected population is 88.7 M. So 40 % of 88.7M is equivalent to
35.48M Filipino Youth in the country.
The youth sector is composed of the youth worker, youth farmer, youth student and the
youth in the community.

Provision in the Constitution

According to the Constitution Article II Section 13, “The State recognizes the vital role
of the youth in nation building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual,
intellectual and social well being. I shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism and
encourage their involvement in public civic affairs.” If this is the case, they should be given a
chance to make their importance felt; to be given protection in their physical, spiritual,
intellectual and moral states.

After the discussion of part I, the students will be grouped into 5-6 members, and
then they will choice a leader. Each member will contribute their ideas
regarding their observations of the important role of youth in the society and to
identify the contributions of youth leaders in the country. Each group will be
asked to discuss their consensus to the class (Leaders will discuss their output).

PART II. THE ART OF LEADERSHIP

According to Elihu Root (1856 – 1937, U.S. lawyer and Statesman): “there are two
entirely different theories according to which individual men seek to get on in the world. One
theory leads a man to pull down everybody around in order to climb up on them to higher place;
the other leads a man to help him in order that he may go up with them.

The true essence of being a leader is the one who helps everybody around him in order
that he may go up with them.

Simple (dictionary) definitions of a leader:

- one who shows the way
- one who acts as guide
- one who directs the affairs or actions
- one who influences or controls the opinions, thoughts or actions

Questions to ponder:
Do you consider yourself a leader? If yes, what made you one? Why should you want to
be a leader? What does a leader do in an organization?

LEADERSHIP DEFINED

Leadership is the ability to persuade others to seek defined objectives enthusiastically. It

is a human factor that binds a group together and motivates it towards the attainment of desired
objectives.

Leadership is the process of influencing the activities of an organized group in its efforts
toward goal setting and goal achievement. (Rachmann, 1987).

Leadership is the process of inducing a subordinate to behave in a desired manner

(Donnelly, 1981).

Leadership is one form of dominance, in which the followers more or less willingly
accept direction and control by another person. (Kuhn, 1990).
 Leadership is the ability that brings to success the potentials in an organization,
community and its people.

UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS OF LEADERSHIP

 GIVING VISION

The leader has a clear idea of what he wants to do – professionally and personally – and
the strength to persist in the face of setbacks, even failures. Unless you know where you are
going, and why you cannot possibly get there.

 PASSION

The underlying passion for the passion of life, combined with a very particular passion
for a vocation, a profession, and a course of action.

The leader loves what he does and loves doing it.

Without hope, we cannot survive; much less progress.

The leader who communicates passion gives hope and inspiration to other people.

 INTEGRITY

Know yourself is the key word.

The leader never lies to himself, especially about himself, knows his flaws as well as his
assets, and deals with them directly.

 MATURITY

It is important for a leader to be matured, for the needs to have experienced, and grown
through that experience.

 TRUST

It is not as much an ingredient of leadership, as it is a product of leadership.

It is a quality that cannot be acquired, but it is earned.

It is given by co-workers and followers, and without it, the leader cannot function.

 CURIOSITY AND DARING

 The leader wonders about everything, wants to learn as much as he can, is willing to take
risks, experiment, and try new things.
He does not worry about failure, but embraces errors, knowing he will learn from them.

 LEADER IS LIKE A PREACHER

He has the capacity to convince others, through his eloquence, through his
communication skills. He ought to be one who is able to relate well with sincerity.

FUNCTIONS OF LEADERSHIP

1. The Leader as an Executive: The most obvious role of the leader in any group is, he is
the top coordinator of the activities of the group. In his executive capacity, the leader
does not ordinary carry out the necessary work; he assigns it to other group members.

2. The Leader as a Planner: The leader often assumes the role of planner deciding the
ways and means by which the group shall achieve its ends. This may involve both the
determination of immediate steps and the long-range planning of the future steps to attain
goals and objectives.

3. The Leader as Policy Maker: One of the most important criticisms of leader’s functions
is the establishment of group goals and policies.
a) From “above” that is dictated by the authorities’ super ordinate to the given
group.
b) From “below” that is dictated by the decision of the group membership as a
whole.
c) From the leader himself when he has autonomy to make policy decision.

4. The Leader as Expert: The leader is often distinguished as a source of readily available
information and skills.

5. The Leader as Controller of Internal Relations: More than any other member, the
leader governs that specific details of group structure and by so doing he may function as
the controller of the in-group relations.

6. The Leader as Surveyor of Rewards and Punishment: Particularly significant from a

member’s point of view is the leader’s power to apply reward and punishment, which
enables him to exercise control over the group members. Sometimes the rewards and
punishment are concerned with relatively external thins, e.g., when a gang divides stolen
loot or when a worker is given an unpleasant task his foreman.

7. The Leader as Arbitrator and Mediator: It is his task to act as both judge and
conciliator. It is within the power of the leader to reduce or to encourage factionalism
within the group, depending upon what personal aims he seeks to achieve.
 8. The Leader as an Exemplar: In some kinds of groups, the leader may serve as a model
of behavior for the group members thus providing them with a concrete indication of
what they should be and do.

9. The Leader as a Symbol of the Group: Group unity is likely to be exchanged by any
factor that makes the groups distinct entity.

10. The Leader as a Substitute for Individual Responsibility: Not common in certain types
of groups, the leader plays an extremely important role for the individual member in
relieving him of responsibility for personal decisions and act that he wishes to avoid.

11. The Leader as Ideologist: It is the leader to furnish the ideology; he serves as the source
of beliefs, value and norms of the individual members.

12. The Leader as the Father Figure: The leader serves as the perfect focus for the positive
emotional feelings of the individual. He is the ideal object for identification for
transference and for feeling of sub-missioners.

PRINCIPLES OF LEADERSHIP

A LEADER…..
 Does not create fear among his followers, but create enthusiasm.
 Does not only have goals; but also has a vision, a dream.
 Does not only know how to discipline others but also knows to discipline him/her.
 Does not only hear, but delegates work among his followers, but also empowers them and
makes them fruitful.
 Does not only decide on what is right, but discerns what is right.
 Does not only provide an open atmosphere, but also creates open mind.
 Is not only keen on winning, but also sees failures as opportunities for success.

GUIDEPOST FOR EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP

 Be flexible
 Be consistent in setting policies.
 Strive for a good match between leaders and tasks of situations.
 Choose the most appropriate strategy for making decisions.
 Always remember: subordinates expect you to help.

GUIDELINES FOR EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP

1. The leader’s awareness of self.

BOSS LEADER

- drives subordinates - coaches subordinates

- depends upon authority - depends upon goodwill
- says “I” - says “WE”
- fixes the blame on breakdown - fixes the breakdown
- knows how job is done - shows how a job is done
- says “GO” - says “LET’S GO”

2. Understanding the group’s characteristics

i.e. skills, maturity, expectations, norms, size and cohesiveness

3. Understanding individual characteristics

i.e. recognizing differences of opinions, background, etc.

4. Flexible of approach
i.e. the ability to use one style of leadership to other

5. Understanding motivation
i.e. what drives one to move

6. A sense of mission
i.e. the belief to lead, the love to work, devotion to people/organization, etc

7. High character
i.e. honest, courageous, sincere, dependable, etc.

8. Job competence
i.e. the leader should know what he /she is doing

9. Good Judgment
i.e. the ability to recognize which is important and which is not

10. Energy
i.e. to always have the zest to do a task expected of him at all times

SKILLS OF A LEADER

1. Working with people

i.e. listen, help, encourage, motivates, etc.
2. Defining issues/priorities
i.e. recognizes the needs of the organization/members, the real objectives and knows to
do at all times

3. Handling of meetings
i.e. setting of agenda, dealing with problems, encouraging participants, etc

4. Organizing
i.e. remember that organizational structure positions are created in every organization so
that the flow of organizational communication becomes systematic. But one should not
be bossy. Decision should come from down lines.

5. Financial Skills
i.e. remember that finance/money is the lifeblood of an organization. The leader has the
responsibility of taking care of it and translating it to service-better and efficient service.

6. Communication skills

7. Training people

8. Political skills
i.e. knowing how to deal with people from all walks of life
9. Public speaking

10. Supervision skills

i.e. being guided by the by-laws; knowing how to get the best out of staff/members

ADDITIONAL THINGS TO REMEMBER

 A good leader should have a BASE – group of people who sees the individual as their
leader ( how can you lead if you don’t have people to lead upon )

 Power can be bad, it can be good. A good leader should know how to define good
objectives.

 There are myriads of things one can talk about on how to be a good leader, how to be an
effective leader, how to manage an organization well, etc., but the best way to learn
leadership skills is through experiencing it.

 The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the
will to carry on.