what are the Filipinos styles of leadership?

Answer 1

NEWSBREAKCOM.PH

Search for a leadership style
By Jose Magadia, SJ
Newsbreak Contributing writer

From the inspiring sincerity of Cory Aquino, to the managerial strategizing of Fidel V. Ramos, to the patron and macho ways of Erap Estrada, Filipinos have had a fair dose of exposure to presidential leadership styles. These days, we have no less than the taray efficiency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to deal with. Sadly, none of these styles seems adequate and able to satisfactorily provide that necessary push to get the country on its toes and keep it moving.

There are those who have simply given up on the presidency altogether, and instead, turned to smaller-scale success stories as a basis of hope for the country. On various sub-national levels, we are not short of models of executive leadership. These are provided by many Cabinet members, undersecretaries, and other civil servants, past and present, as well as by some leaders of local government units, the likes of Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo, Bulacan Gov. Josie de la Cruz, and Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando.

Despite the frustration, the longing for just the right presidential leadership style persists. There is still need, after all, for someone at the top to coordinate all the efforts and activities: to lead them through a clear orientation, to maximize use of resources and avoid duplication, to oversee and monitor movements, to check errors, to manage internal conflicts. In other words, efficiency and effectiveness call for definitive and unambiguous leadership from above, one that can mobilize a multi-specialization, multi-level team toward comprehensive and integrated development, and facilitate the crafting and implementation of good policies.

Is there a particular style that can do this best? Can one speak of a peculiarly Pinoy brand of leadership, considerate of our cultural quirks? Is it too much to dream of a single leader who can bring together the positive traits of all of the above, and weed out the negative features in each? Might one, perhaps, even speak of a leadership style that would fit any developing country?

The ideal leader

It is not difficult for Filipinos to draw up a list of characteristics that would define the ideal presidential leadership style. Almost every one has his or her own ideas on this matter, and if pressed to expound, a single Filipino might even be able to give a fairly comprehensive profile.

We want many things: We want the visions of a dreamer, along with the meticulousness of a micro-manager. We long for principled politics, but we also expect consensus-building, and we also very easily accept and tolerate compromise-making, if properly explained. We feel the need for the discipline and decisiveness of a strict taskmaster, yet we also readily laud the flexibility of an understanding administrator. We prefer leaders who get things done, methodically and with speed, while at the same time giving premium to those that consult extensively.

It really does sound like we are reaching for the stars. We want everything. But that is probably because we are really needy, and we cannot have everything. Though valid, this need does border on an unhealthy dependency—the search for a provider who can get things done for us, so we can sit back and simply abdicate most, if not all, responsibilities. So maybe it is providential that we cannot get such a one.

Perhaps, a more realistic way of proceeding in the search for leadership styles is the acceptance of certain givens, as a starting point. First, the reality is that the country’s problems are just too complex for any single style to be able to respond to adequately. Second, the list of traits for the ideal leader should probably best be made to apply, not to a single individual, but to a team that can see to the work of government. In the end, there are various styles that might work. Whichever style though, two very basic qualities must be present: the ability to lead a team of competent achievers, and at the same time, the ability to inspire the rest of the country.

Inspiration

Effective team leadership would include: a decisiveness based on clear vision and solid principle; adequate intelligence to understand comprehensive programs, their component parts, and the complex processes that they set into motion; a basic honesty and the commitment to preserve it; and a respect for law and the principle of subsidiarity.

For a country of skeptics who tend to focus on weaknesses and inadequacies, inspiration is a must. This can be done by a leader who is able to communicate a vision, by translating it into a language, both verbal and nonverbal, that people can understand, accept, and rally around.

This communication must go beyond ordinary public relations, and the re-packaging strategies promoted by propaganda. It must give people a real sense that things are indeed moving, and that any one is welcome to come in with his or her contribution to the enterprise, and somehow be considered part of the team.

This is akin to what Harvard’s Joseph Nye calls the use of "soft power," which bases its strength not in the ability to use coercive military means, but in the capacity to tap into and incorporate resources and processes from a wider variety of societal players, especially academe, civil society, business, and those from the popular culture. Nye points out that this makes more sense in modern societies where more and more people have easier access to information, and are therefore in a position to really influence positive outcomes.

Are there leaders out there who can swing this? Certainly. It is unfortunate, however, that the rules of our institutionalized political games neither attract nor breed nor sustain these productive types, as easily as they do those the showbiz or "trapo" brands.

The author teaches political science at the Ateneo de Manila University.

Answer 2

DEBATE? He turn into next to Patton the superb familiar of his age! He turn right into a great chief. Truman turn right into a bad President and his determination to fireside Mac is rapidly responsibly for the conflict in Korea no longer being gained with the help of the UN Forces. A Nuke for China could have close them up and saved them from storming around the YALU.

Answer 3

Democratic!!!
Justice must Reign!!!!!

Answer 4

Bribes and fisticuffs.

Answer 5

corruption