Leadership and Change (Short Essay)

by May Anne Joy D. Romanes

majromanes57@gmail.com

         There is no success without change.  Like metamorphosis, change may seem to be a quiet, painful, and going-to-nowhere process, but if we, as leaders, keep on believing, things will eventually be in our favor.  We either win in our quest or learn from our mistakes (Mandela, 1994).  With this in mind, we must recognize that change should start within us, for if leaders cannot do the change themselves, how can they ask for it from their members?  However, change, in reality, is not palatable to most.  Most people want change without sacrificing anything for it.  They are yet to realize that change breeds success.

          A caterpillar only becomes a butterfly when it wants to fly so much that it is willing to give up being a caterpillar (Paulus, 1972).  This is the same with the people in an organization.  People do not realize that they would struggle more when they decide to stay in their present situation, when in fact, when they choose to change, their hardships will be lessened in the future.  Change may be filled with challenges, just like our usual life; the only difference is that in change, we have a vision.  In order to make people be willing to change, they must love first what they envision themselves to be; otherwise, leaders would not get their hearts for change.  Leaders must make the members want to metaphorically ‘fly’ to their visions in alignment to the vision of the organization.

          But what could spark change? Change has been an abrased word.  People have been used to it.  Most have said they believe in its power and love it, but would neither initiate nor be part of it themselves.  The Bible says that faith without works is dead (James 2:17, New King James Version), so as change without action.  We cannot want change without doing it ourselves; each organizational member cannot be an integral part of change without giving their best efforts in it.  Having said this, what could make people give their best efforts?  People are willing to do their best for things they are passionate about.  They want new things to strive for; leaders use creativity and innovation to bring them these new things.  People want change when they are positive about its results.  People get passionate when love exceeds the hardships.

          Our thinking should be inclined to progress.  Each day, leaders must try to think higher and deeper.  We should not confine ourselves within the dimensions of the things we thought, did, nor believed.  Although there are things and habits that are worth keeping, we must give space for new and worthy ideas.  If leadership is a relationship, we know that the latter usually deteriorates because of lack of space.  In leadership, we need space so that our actions do not become a boring repetition of the past.  Leaders need to find space for the ‘extra’ in the ‘ordinary’ things we do. 

          Indeed, vision, creativity, innovation, and passion are the foundations of change.  With all these, as well as the indomitable spirits of those who complete the organization, success through change would not be that far. 

References:

Mandela, N. (1994). Long walk to freedom. Retrieved from https://zelalemkibret.files. wordpress.com/2012/01/the-autobiography-of-nelson-mandela.pdf

Paulus, T. (1972). Hope for the flowers. Retrieved from http://www.chinadevpeds.com/ resources/Hope%20for%20the%20Flowers.pdf

The Holy Bible. (n.d.). New King James Version. Retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/? search=James+2%3A14-26&version=NKJV