Reflections by Ernie Garilao
From Ernie Garilao: While the triple-extravaganza unfolds ( impeachment; truth commission/chacha); what else can we individually do?
let me share with you:
for the past years, i have been working on bridging leadership at aim: nothing but the leader owning the issue/problem/societal divide; doing his analysis on why there is a divide; and identifying the stakeholders who can address the divide; then he/she goes into an engagement process where the different stakeholders (all to the table) are convened and engaged to come up with a collaborative agreement on what to do withthe issue’ and third, having gotten the collaborative agreement; what the different stakeholders can do collectively and individually in terms of programs and projects that address the divide. (Of necessity is the character and values of the leader to be able to convene the different , diverse and often contending stakeholders: the leader must have integrity, credibility, for the different sectors to trust him for them to go through this process.)
I have looked at this for sometime becasue in my almost 30 years in development work and public service, i have asked myself: bakit wala pang nangyayari sa atin.
I came up with 2 reflections:
a)First is the need for authentic leaders. Most of the training we provide deal with managerial and technical skills.And yet we need leaders with a strong moral compass and with integrity. (who can trasform tehir institutions/ as well as a empowered citizenship, etc) We haven’t seen programs that promote values-based leadership. Personal transformation, before anything else. When I am asked to do training, I try be be selective. I only deal with those in purgatory or on their way to heaven. Not with those destined for hell, unless they say they repent. Considering my limited time and energy, I need to focus.
b) Second reflection is how come we cannot get our act together. I always ask why we cannot get our act together when by and large we all agree on the ultimate outcome: that the Filipino must have a better quality of life. I think it is becasue we are not predisposed to work with diverse stakeholders. Our comfort zone is to work with allies and friends, and to hell withthose not with us. If this is a predisposition, can we offer a collaborative technology and a bridging leadership style that would be relevant is such a milieu.
So far the work of the AIM Center for Bridging Soceital Divides has been in Mindanao working with diverse groups like the MILF, military, CSOs, LGUs, business sector, religious leaders, etc. etc. and the feedback has been good. I think I have stumbled on something relevant and worthwhile pursuing. And I am hopeful.
But inthe meantime, let the triple extravanganza begin
Ernie Garilao
