EXPAND RIPPLES AND PAY IT FORWARD
By: Herna Francis Mae B. Tano
When I was 12 years old, I had a chance to visit the elementary school of my cousin to claim her documents from the school for transferring processes. I witnessed the situation of her former school, few classrooms and facilities, environment where I considered it not conducive and I was sad how poor education will be for many students. At that time, I was grateful knowing how lucky I am that I was sent to a school with no situation the same as what I saw. So there’s this activity in our organization whom I spearheaded called FEBIGAYAN—an outreach program and I thought of the same elementary school. From an eye-opening- situation, I realized that in leadership journey, re-echoing acquired knowledge is vital.
Not using what you have learned is a waste of time.
Expanding ripples. What does this mean? What was learned from the mentors will be applied in work and shared to constituents. So when we say expanding ripples in leadership, we mean to say the ripple of influence. When I started as a volunteer, I see officers from our organization as a picture of committed leaders. In every task given, we always try to assure excellence as part of every output. We were raised in a culture where mediocrity is discouraged most specially if the project is for a community. In times of work, there will be instant reprimands or unexpected situation and one should take the initiative to act on it. With work ethics, an organization’s environment will be able to avoid unwanted circumstances. This includes punctuality— a simple mark of commitment. Let’s say in every meeting, put in mind that you are expected to come on or before the meeting starts. We know 8:00 am is never 8:01 am.
Apart from my experience in dealing with professionalism in organization works, I was able to engage myself to different community projects such as Project Amigo, Yaka-kaya, Magpakabana Kita, Bahaynihan and PangkaisipJuan and started my own advocacy project known as Andam Higala. Andam Higala was launched in the midst of Coronavirus pandemic to address the needs of sanitary health kits most especially the basic needs of women and children who are part of financially challenged communities. Currently, we have already given five communities the access to these kits. With this, we are able to expand the ripple of influence not just to the communities whom we helped but also raise awareness through various means and one of which is by utilizing social media.
Indeed, learning in the workplace should be a two-way process because if you want the best for them, firstly be the best of yourself too. They learn from you and you learn from them. Upon serving, you may always expect to learn something new but should not demand a return of investment. Our emergence in our communities is the most essential task of being a leader. But we cannot give what we don’t have that is why a leader must have self-awareness first and that’s another value for expanding the ripples. Use power to empower. Expand ripples by recognizing. Consider subordinates not merely as members but as ‘partners’. From there, we acknowledge how to build bridges and having common grounds. Then pay it forward! Always remember to help the least, the last and the lost.
Keyword: School supplies, Gift giving, Ripples, Leadership, Expanding Ripples, Empower