I am POWER!

Power is defined as a measurement of an entity's ability to control its environment, including the behavior of other entities.

As for me, Power is something to hold on to. Something that can make you feel that your in authority and you can do things unimaginable.

When I was a child, I wanted to have power, a superpower. I was fond of watching Anime and American cartoons. One of them were "Avatar: The Legend of Ang". It is about the story of Ang and his journey towards acquiring the four elemental power: Air, Water, Fire and Earth. I once dreamed to become a water bender (a person that has the power to manipulate water). Being a water bender really signifies my character as a person.

Water bending can be a great figurative comparison on how to empower the organization. Now lets see:

Water manipulation: Almost all forms of Waterbending involve moving and shaping a body of water to the Waterbender's desire.

Empowerment is the process of enabling or authorizing an individual to think, behave, take action, and control work and decision making in autonomous ways. It is the state of feeling self-empowered to take control of one's own destiny.

The skill water manipulation greatly signifies the whole process of empowerment wherein to shape and manipulate people for the progress of the company

Snow manipulation: A move that pushes and levitates snow for attack, shielding and defense.

Authentic Communication: Individual communication is open, honest, transparent, and vulnerable. Individuals are talking about the real issues going on in the organization. When thinking about empowerment in human relations terms, try to avoid thinking of it as something that one individual does for another. This is one of the problems organizations have experienced with the concept of empowerment. People think that someone, usually the manager, has to bestow empowerment on the people who report to him.

In my organization (Brokenshire College or BC), empowering employees follow this kind of values:

Self Responsibility: Faculty and staff take responsibility to have their job, team, function, organization, the way they wish it to be. This is the counterpoint to being a victim within the organization. I was the one suggesting and executing my suggestion for the benefit of all. There are tasks and additional works that is beyond your job description and your paygrade and I call it as "LABOR OF LOVE". I have no issue with this. I believe that I have the spirit of volunteerism and I know you (yes you! The one reading this post..) know that which is very obvious in anywhere and anyplace I go. Its just that sometimes it made me feel that there is no balance of empowerment if this will still going to continue. Employees are self responsible and employers should be do as well!!

Personal and Group Process Skills: Individuals and the organization have established protocols and developed skills which are regularly deployed to resolve interpersonal issues that come up in project management. Issues are resolved quickly and cleanly.

There is this so-called devotional every Monday 7:30 in the morning (which I rarely attend because it so early and it is technically my off). The devotional purpose is to be close to God and to find peace and tranquility and also to share your devotions. I believe this could be a good example for group process skills.

Caring: The organizational leadership demonstrate in tangible ways concern for individual employee well being. Employees feel valued and are inspired to give their very best effort on behalf of the organization. This is what I like in BC. I feel special and being cared. 50% in medical check ups and other discounts for hospital services signifies care from the organization fr their employees.

There are some instances where I was the one that contribute empowerment for BC. Here are some:

• I empowered myself in discussing the career objectives I wished to pursue with my supervisor. I told my supervisor, frankly, that if the opportunities were not available in the school, I would move on to another company. (Am i too harsh?.. But it is still empowerment!)
• During faculty meetings, I would always share my ideas (which I believe are brilliant!) in solving a certain problems and dilemma in our department.

As I stated in my previous post (Change), that I am still new in this organization (BC). I want to build my career in this organization and be empowered.

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Thank God for Organizational Analysis

Yes and yes.. Thank god that organizational analysis subject arrived last January 7, 2012. I really thought we will hear the sermons all morning. I know it is all our fault. I was devastated that I came in SOOOOOOOO late that day. It is the worst thing happened to me this year (for now). I felt I betrayed my professor, it was the worst feeling I ever had in the entirety of my masters. I hope I will not do it again (I REALLY HOPE!). So much for that...

Thank god for my classmate Dustin for giving such a wonderful sharing about Manager vs Leader. Dustin deliver it nicely and made it simple to understand. I feel like I am in a fighting arena...

In the left corner weighing 300 pounds LION the LEADER... and the right corner weighing less than one pound each BEES SWARM the MANAGERS..

In the video, the lion was defeated. Poor thing. But in reality, particularly in business, will the Lion (Leader) will be defeated by BEE SWARM (Managers).

"Both a manager and a leader may know the business well. But the leader must know it better and in a different way." (FutureVisions) This is True. He or she must grasp the essential facts and the underlying forces that determine the past and present trends in the business, so that s/he can generate a vision and a strategy to bring about its future. One telling sign of a good leader is an honest attitude towards the facts, towards objective truth. A subjective leader obscures the facts for the sake of narrow self-interest, partisan interest or prejudice.

There is profound difference — a chasm — between leaders and managers. A good manager does things right. A leader does the right things. Doing the right things implies a goal, a direction, an objective, a vision, a dream, a path, a reach.

Lots of people spend their lives climbing a ladder — and then they get to the top of the wrong wall. Most losing organizations are over-managed and under-led. Their managers accomplish the wrong things beautifully and efficiently. They climb the wrong wall.

I consider myself as a manager because I base my vision, my appeal to others, and my integrity on reality, on the facts, on a careful estimate of the forces at play, and on the trends and contradictions. I develop the means for changing the original balance of forces so that my vision can be realized.

I decided to identify some following personalities and people whether they are manager or a leader:

1. President Noynoy Aquino – LEADER. It is because I know he can be a good example in our country and a big help to our fellow men. He has this characteristics of possesses a natural set of talents that inspire people to follow, to be loyal, and to produce new innovation in life though our country is still struggling in the midst of crisis and some calamities.

2. A lion in the jungle – LEADER, because all we know that a lion is the “king of the jungle”. Lion has a strong and brave characteristic in life he will do his duty to protect neither his family nor his clan, though there were animals but we can foresee their strong ability to survive in the jungle and strive their life to the fullest.

3. Harry Potter – MANAGER, because Harry Potter set an example of managing his group to cope up with lots of hindrances in his journey towards his real identity in life.

4. Boy Abunda – This is hard. LEADER because he inspired people in the media industry and so the mass people he gave learning’s and lesson through people’s lives especially his learning’s from the past, he never get tired of inspiring one’s life.

5. A platoon leader (Military) - LEADER, because as a platoon leader he/she must have the characteristic of he is the person everyone else looks to for orders and sets the uniform standards. This makes him a target, so he should appear very much like a rifleman. The differences are very subtle, and the only way you should be able to identify him is by the RTO’s surrounding him.

6. Renato Corona – MANAGER, though he has an issue due to the connection of our former president Gloria Arroyo I think he also gave or render good deeds in our country, I cannot put fingers to others person’s life or identity because I know were not perfect at all.

7. Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo – LEADER, because she had made something good in her terms when she was appointed as a President.

8. Oprah Winfrey - MANAGER, because she gives advices and share her learning’s and experiences in media. And she never get tired of helping other people that those who really in need.

9. A high school teacher –LEADER, because for me there are my second parents in school they thought us things in life, lessons that are easy to complicated, to share thoughts in life and be a part of our journey. Teachers are the ones who nourished every students in the world whether your good or not but in eyes of the teacher’s we are the ones for future generation.

10. Yourself – For me I’ll appoint myself as a leader through my experiences and learning’s in life I can handle people and I can do great task. I’m not being boastful nor conceited person but I know I can be a leader in some other ways.

Change was the next topic..

Talking about Vision... We had a hard time understanding it. Should it be achievable or should it just be something like a dream that can never be come true or almost impossible to happen?

A vision statement is sometimes called a picture of your company in the future but it’s so much more than that. Your vision statement is your inspiration, the framework for all your strategic planning.

A vision statement may apply to an entire company or to a single division of that company. Whether for all or part of an organization, the vision statement answers the question, "Where do we want to go?" What you are doing when creating a vision statement is articulating your dreams and hopes for your business. It reminds you of what you are trying to build.

So vision is just like a dream...

or it would be much better if it is like this..

A vision will always remind you of your commitment to success.

According to some, vision should be fully embraced. I am just new in the college where I am working right now. As for my organization... hmmmmm..

This the vision of Brokenshire College (where I was currently emplyed as full time which is a unusual):

Vision

Brokenshire College is the leading learning and transforming Evangelical Christian institution enabling learners to make a difference in the World.

I believe I could definitely embrace this vision. But for now I am still in the process of embracing the mission which is:

Mission

Brokenshire College is a learning organization engaged in the pursuit and diffusion of knowledge through the highest standards of instruction, research and extension. It leads a life of faith, learning and action that develop people to become intellectually competent, sensitive, spiritually mature, aware and responsive to the needs and aspirations of the community. It manages and develops wisely all resources to ensure sustainable growth of the institution as responsible stewards of and contributes to the realization of a just, free and responsible Christian social order.

As I said, I am still a "Newbie" in the organization. I see, hear and feel things that making me think twice why I am included in the organization. But so far so good. I just hope and pray that my decision is the right one.

Well anyways, so that's it for now. I am fully relieved now! I realized that the new golden rule is

"Wag kayong malate dumating kung si RSG ang iyong instructor or else...." PEACE!

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