NAME: SEYCHELLE ANN S.

ORCINI
REACTION PAPER NO.: 5
TITLE OF REPORT: LEADERSHIP QUALITIES/CHALLENGES IN LEADERSHIP
REPORTED BY: MR. NOEL CALCETAS

Based on the reporter’s discussion about the LEADERSHIP QUALITIES AND

ITS CHALLENGES, being a leader is a challenge itself. The challenges of leadership

are really of three (3) kinds: from external, coming from people and situations; internal,

stemming from within the leader himself; and those arising from the nature of the

leadership role such as the Cooperative Education Program. It is almost impossible to

imagine a situation where a leader doesn’t have to cope with external challenges. In an

organization, such issues as lack of funding and other resources, opposition from forces

in the community, and interpersonal problem within the organization often rear their

heads. If the leader doesn’t handle external challenges well, the program probably won’t

either. We’ve all seen examples of this, in any organization where everyone from the

top management to the rank and file employees are constantly worried. When people

feel the leaders are stressed or unsure, they themselves become stressed or unsure as

well and the emphasis of the group moves from its mission to the current worrisome

situation. In order to avoid these circumstances, a chosen leader must possess positive

attributes such as INTEGRITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, and ABILITY ON GOOD

DECISION-MAKING. A good coordinator or leader should also have the CONFIDENCE

and GREAT PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS. In addition to that, he/she acquire the talent

on COMMUNICATION both oral and written.

Overall, the topics was presented well. The presentation was well outlined and

the overview of the topics was discussed and expounded well in details.
NAME: SEYCHELLE ANN S. ORCINI

ACTIVITY NO.: 5

QUESTION 1: STATE AT LEAST FIVE (5) LEADERSHIP SKILLS A STUDENT

COORDINATOR SHOULD HAVE. JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWER.

INTEGRITY
One of the keys to a positive and effective environment in Cooperative Education

Program is having a coordinator who acts with integrity. Integrity as COE coordinator

refers to being honest, trustworthy, and reliable. Coordinators with integrity act in

accordance with their words (i.e. they practice what they preach) and own up to their

mistakes, as opposed to hiding them, blaming their team, or making excuses. Integrity

also involves following school policies, appropriately using organization’s time and

resources, and respecting one’s colleagues and direct reports. It is important to

remember that a COE coordinator’s behavior reflects on not only their own reputation,

but also on the reputation of the organization.

ACCOUNTABILITY
Accountability is important as a COE Coordinator because it helps ensure that

you, the school and the students as well as the partner agencies are working towards a

common goal and that they are following through with their commitments. It instills a

sense of trust and mutual respect among the leader and their team. When coordinators

are held accountable for their actions, as well as understand the consequences of

failing to meet expectations, the students will trust in your leadership more. This type of
accountability also spurs innovation among the people on your team which can lead to

better success in the long run.

DECISION-MAKING
Making decisions, and supervising those who make decisions beneath you, are

two basic tasks of coordinator ship. A well-crafted decision helps program move in the

right direction and systematizing how these decisions are made can ensure that the

choices made are the best ones for students, the school and the partner organization.

COMMUNICATION
Cooperative Education coordinators must be good communicators because they

inspire and empower people around them, and without good communication skills, she

would never be heard or understood by others. Therefore, effective communication is

an important non-technical skill that every leader must possess. Thus, an effective

communicator has a clarity of thought which transforms into the words they use to

instruct and interact with the COE parties. They clearly define the goals to be fulfilled by

the interns, the school and the partner organization and monitor if they successfully

completed the goal by the end of the practicum. If the interns fail to meet the goals,

effective coordinators simplify goals to help them understand.

INNOVATIVE/CREATIVE
Innovative COE Coordinator ship is a style of leadership that involves applying

innovation and creativity to managing student and programs. Innovative coordinators

often inspire productivity in new ways and through different approaches than have

typically been used and taken. Another element of innovative coordinator ship is the
willingness to consider a different concept or approach, which can be challenging for

those who prefer to stick to tried and true methods. 

QUESTION 2: GIVE AT LEAST FIVE (5) POTENTIAL BARRIERS TO LEADERSHIP

SUCCESS.
 REFUSING HELP
We all need help in order to learn. For a variety of reasons, usually rooted

in personal insecurity, many leaders or coordinators tend to refuse help. Using

coaching and committing to the development help a COE Coordinator on

achieving successful and effective programs.

 IGNORING THE USEFULNESS OF MISTAKES

Mistakes are necessary for growth. They are signposts on the learning

journey. I worked with a client who was experiencing a series of difficult and

upsetting events, and he wanted to move past them as quickly as possible.

When you find yourself feeling low about your leadership, don’t push it into the

background.  Rather, embrace the opportunity for growth, reflect on how to avoid

similar potholes in the future, and learn how to scramble out of the next pothole a

bit more adroitly.

 NOT LETTING THE TEAM DO ITS JOB

This coordinator ship blocker has many names: micromanaging, control

freak, inability to delegates. True leadership requires the ability to create and

maintain an environment where others can succeed too. This means a leader
 have to get out of the way and let the team do their individual functions and

delegations so that they to would have the chance to improve and shine.

 LACK OF LEADERSHIP PROCESS CREDIBILITY

In a broader leadership role, expertise in every function is not possible or

needed.  What is needed is the highly competent execution of the leadership

process, such as selecting the team and organizing and defining goals, priorities,

decisions, resources, accountability, and options. Leaders must keep the wider

view in balance.

 INABILITY TO FACE THE POWER DYNAMICS OF LEADERSHIP

Many leaders are uncomfortable with the power they hold over others. The

pressures of this responsibility can cause even good leaders to hold back from

fully embracing their role.  If you are uncomfortable with your higher status as a

leader, you must face this unease and learn to use power effectively and

ethically.