The 6th session of the Weekly with JC: Leadership and HR Series Fireside Chat was held last June 8, 2023, at the JC Hub with participants joining onsite and online via Zoom. Grace Sorongon, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of talent acquisition firm John Clements Consultants welcomed the great lineup of speakers for this week’s topic: Leading Through Chaos: Strategies for Success in Times of Uncertainty. The panelists were made up of industry leaders Rosemarie Rafael – Chairperson and President of AIC Group of Companies Holding Corporation, David Leechiu – Co-founder and CEO of Leechiu Property Consultants, Inc., and Angelina Mukhi, FPM – HR Strategy Advisor, People and Culture Leader, and also the moderator for the session.
Not all opportunities are opportunities
The conversation started with Angelina Mukhi asking Rosemarie Rafael about a time when she really made an impact on others, where she had to deal with a very difficult situation in her leadership position with a lot of risks involved, and she had to make decisions with very little information in a short time frame. Rosemarie shared a time when there was an opportunity for a big project, but she was uncomfortable about it because she felt her values would be compromised. In the end, she decided not to proceed because as a leader she needed to think about the long term. To her, integrity is the glue that puts everything together.
After that, she got another project, which was the distribution of the ballot papers during the first automated election in 2010, and that was a success. For her, not all opportunities are opportunities. She then continued to share her experience at the start of the pandemic when she chartered a plane for 3 months during the time there were no commercial flights, and she gained new clients in the process.
Fear is a self-imposed feeling
David Leechiu shared his experience during 1998–2005, from the Asian Financial crisis to the impeachment of the president. During that time, things were tough in our country– many foreigners left, and we had high interest rates. It was also during this time when he started his business with his partners. He had to survive the economy. In summary, for him, every crisis produces an opportunity, and you must be ready when that crisis comes.
Angelina opened the topic of willingness to take big risks and fear. David then shared that fear has a survival benefit: it keeps us alive when things are very tough– but also when we are faced with opportunity, we are blinded by fear. He continued with the saying that fear is a self-imposed feeling. If you are afraid all the time, it will limit your progress. And fighting fear is one of the biggest lifelong skills. Angelina shared an acronym for FEAR that she learned: False Expectations Appearing Real, that sometimes we imagine the worst and that paralyzes us.
For Rosemarie Rafael, it is not letting fear get the better of us. People will look at you, and if you are afraid then they will be, too. It really comes down to courage and motivation in leadership. Sometimes we don’t know how to discern the right thing but then the circumstance and situation are revealed and when you look back, it is all connected. For us to be able to get what we want in life, we should know our values, and must prepare and plan for it, so that when the right opportunities come, we will recognize them as such.
Advice on being a leader
David Leechiu constantly encourages people to be the best they can be at what they do and to regularly shed things from their lives. He always tries to make things real for them. He discourages the use of Sir and Ma’am, instead being on a first name basis. He treats employees as equals and helps them fulfill their potential.
For Rosemarie Rafael, at this point in her life, she is doing succession planning, looking at the values her people have, seeing where they are going to fit in, and building communities where her people are engaged. She determines and selects her successors by looking at the person’s character, loyalty, commitment, and dedication.
Q & A
During the Question-and-Answer portion, moderator Alina Manaig wondered if there was ever a time the panelists jumped into an opportunity from their leadership positions, but it was a wrong one. How they were able to get out of that chaos? Rosemarie shared that success is a series of things. She went through a lot and made wrong decisions, but she learned from those experiences. For David, success is composed of many failures; to learn how to get over mistakes and stand up again. Angelina noticed something common about their answers– to know when it is finished, to cut your losses, and to know when you must get out and move on.
The next question came from a Zoom participant, asking how leaders can support the well-being and mental health of their team members during chaotic situations. For Rosemarie, she always had to appear strong and unafraid because when she does things seemingly scared, then her people become fearful, too. Also, to show them that she is taking care of them. As for David, the organization relies on its leaders, and they must keep supporting each other. For him, there are times when weakness is a good thing to show, but in a time of crisis, sometimes it is not. People will value strength more than weakness. He then shared the saying, “When the ship is going through a storm, the captain thinks of the ship. But when it hits the iceberg, the captain thinks of the crew.” He relates the ship to his organization, and he must constantly think about everything that is important for the ship, because the ship is what protects the crew and everyone in it.
Leaders take care of everyone
Angelina closed the conversation by summarizing that a leader, before even thinking about leadership strategies, thinks about who they are first– being clear about their purpose and values, and having the courage to live up to and exercise those values. Whether times are chaotic or pleasant, it is being true to that set of values that they believe are anchored to their purpose in life. And there will be times when those values are tested. And it is okay to fail. These are lesson-generating times that make them stronger and better and keep them moving forward. And finally, leadership is taking care of everyone.
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