My Current Leadership Challenge

Dr. Margaret Mead, an American cultural anthropologist, stated that "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

The COVID-19 pandemic had somewhat opened a series of roadblocks in the lives of public leaders.  Gone were the days when the Department of Education (DepEd) officials were so active in delivering outputs through balanced workshops and seminars, the usually effective collaboration between and among stakeholders were no longer evident, and the teachers who constantly facilitate learning through classroom tasks had been likewise halted.  

DepEd is in crisis and due to this catastrophe, one of the roadblocks I experienced was the lack of interest in growth and learning. 

With things becoming virtual, our officials must not fall into the trap of the status quo and continuously strive for the best.  Employees must take the time to develop their skills for them not to be left behind.  There is a need to be curious and continue to learn from each other.

The virtual leadership action that supervisors need is co-activating new leaders.  This concept extends to shared leadership, as overseer, we must identify and monitor potential leaders.  Reverse mentoring must also be employed to update not only our colleagues but our superiors.

To achieve virtual leader excellence, there must be trust in our co-workers and one must be willing to share information with them, favorable or not. This will highlight the leadership values and earn team members' trust that the team needs to know and has to know.

As public servants when the going gets tough, we do not merely lead to survive; we lead for all to thrive.