Guiret, Dana Josella D.

MGT 32 – A

Learning insight on leadership in connection with CBA week:

A common question when it comes to group works is that – “Who will be the group
leader?” Groupmates then start to pinpoint members saying that he should be a leader because
he’s like this like that, others would say “Ikaw na lang, for formalities sake lang gud, mutabang
bitaw mi tanan” or somone actually volunteers thinking that “Ako na lang, tig-assign ra bitaw na
ug task ug tig organize ang leader”. But is it really? Is it that easy to be a leader? Does leadership
entails such meager tasks only? Robbins, in a chapter on leadership in his book would argue
otherwise, for leadership is so much more than the ones stated above.

CBA week was a long week celebration full of activities organized by the students. The
CBA governor along with the respective organizations president (in our case the JPIA President)
were the said leaders of this event who worked together to ensure that the event will be a
success. I personally haven’t had any direct encounter with the two leaders but based from what
others told me, Reine Limpao – the CBA governor, is easy to work with. She does not take sides
and listens first to what others have to say before making a decision. And from what I observed,
she does not give off that intimidating vibe making her more approachable. The JPIA President
on the other hand is also easy to approach. The type of person willing to lend a hand, responsible
and sticks to the schedule. With CBA week, both showed that good leadership is not based on
gender as both showed flexibility, teamwork, trust and etc. to their subordinates. They listened
to what others have to say and encourages others to do well. One thing they failed to do in some
events though was to start it on time, some events started a little over an hour after it was
supposed to start.

I, on the other hand, did not participate in any activities. I was asked to be a tabulator
once but unfortunately I had a class that time. All in all, I was just there as a spectator and a
supporter (bought bookmarks, food, tickets to some major activities). The activities were fun,
food were yummy, hosts were amusing and major events like Miss CBA and the dance contest
was entertaining. To be honest, I wasn’t even present in some activities especially the ones
towards in the evening. Yes, it was expected and assumed of us to be there that is why some did
not hold classes but as selfish as it sounds like, I took that week as a chance to unwind, SLEEP,
catch up with my fiction books, and spent time with friends and families which I feel like I
normally can’t do on a regular basis. Also, one could easily enjoy the activities more if one is just
a spectator and not a participant as it puts out the pressure on oneself. Business law, Finance,
Accountancy subjects and other tasks for other classes eats up most of the time (and sometimes
the time is not enough that you just leave it to God’s hands) even if you’ve slept for about 4 hours
only. So to have a week that isn’t so packed due to cancelled classes brought by the event was
kind of liberating, a breather in a way. Even before the event also, I had this sort of thinking in
my head already that – I often hold back from joining activities for fear that I will have to give up
more time, do more work and that I wouldn’t be able to commit to it in the end. Juggling
Accountancy academics, social life, and sleep already takes a toll on the average and having other
activities to juggle is not for me, I guess.

In relation to motivation, I tend to be a Theory X (Douglas McGregor’s X & Y) type of

person to activities that does not interest me. With incentives like a plus in the grade (may also
apply to Cognitive Evaluation theory) or it is REQUIRED by the head, I will attend and join. Theory
Y though on activities that interests me and catches my attention. Here, even without
instructions to do so, I will be very much willing to join and attend said activity. But what I
experienced may not be good in a formal business organization. It just so happened that, a lot of
students in CBA wanted to participate but may not be the case for a formal organization. To
ensure success (success will certainly not be achieved if no one will cooperate) though and that
people will actually be motivated to join and cooperate, the management will just have to offer
valued rewards (which worked for me), create perceptions that effort will lead to rewards and
ensure that rewards are fair and equitable. Commending someone for a job well done also serves
as motivation especially if the boss himself says it to his subordinates.