When talked about what leadership is, people often associate it with holding a high position or title. But for anti-crime and anti-graft advocate, investigative journalist and BITAG Media Unlimited, Inc. CEO Ben BITAG Tulfo, that is not the true measure of leadership.
During a speaking engagement at AMA University Leadership Webinar Master Program, Ben BITAG centered his talk about who must lead, how they should lead, and how leadership should be.
He pointed out that theories, books, or seminars may teach you leadership concepts. But they cannot replace lessons that someone may learn from an actual situation.
“Leadership is all about in an actual situation, not in theories..”
EMPATHY AND WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN
Empathy is an important quality of being a leader. Ben BITAG explained that leadership is not only about making the right decisions, but also understanding the people behind its purpose.
“The key to be a good leader, you need to have empathy—ability to understand the situation, put yourself in the shoes of a particular person..”
He also mentioned that a leader must learn to listen. Through listening, leaders may learn more than they expect.
“Listening is the key to understanding, in order for you to learn.”
“The trademark of being a good leader begins with being a good listener.”
BOTTOM-UP LEADERSHIP
“A lot of leaders are not willing to go down to the bottom,” BITAG stated.
The reluctance to go down to the bottom may cause the leaders to be blind from the realities of the ground.
For Ben BITAG, a leader must go down from their high horse for them to be able to reach out, listen, engage, because that is what leaders are all about.
“Sometimes being a leader means you’re sitting on a high horse… the bottom-up conversation is something where you go down, and take away that position to understand and listen to a person who’s talking.”
CHARACTER ABOVE ALL
“The trademark of a leader and how he became a leader, comes with a character. As true leaders can live and lead comfortably in a very uncomfortable, painful situation. ”
Leadership is not measured by titles but by character. That’s why Ben BITAG mentioned some of the characteristics of a good leader; they must be passionate, love to work, dedicated, and have the ability to take action.
Ending his talk on a powerful note, Ben BITAG left a reminder: a leader must never compromise. Leadership is not transactional nor a personal gain, but a commitment to serve with a heart.
“Leaders must have a heart, first and foremost… the heart for your countrymen to see the people from the top to the bottom. Next is the brain, your wisdom. Third, the balls, the courage to take action, and lastly the brawn, your muscle and strength to execute your decision.”
