WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LEADERSHIP?

by Sr. Cecil Marie, SOL

In the midst of the trend society who are hungry for ambition, power, popularity and wants to appear always good, we are invited to contemplate "what the meaning of leadership is". It is interesting that the common goals of training on leadership is to develop everyone becomes a mature and integrated person who has strong vision as religious woman of Sisters of Our Lady. Therefore, leaders are not primarily in religious role, function, or a particular position in a congregation, but a person who has a religious quality of life as religious woman of Sisters of Our Lady. Based on the my experiences and reflections for three weeks attending in the ITL process, an author inspires me because he found two important points that are needed to be internalized in developing the quality of personal life and mission.

First, simplicity and humility are necessary to release the  sense of superiority as the oldest participant and be equal with others, be led by young sisters which has the first time in leading, accept our self-limitations and dare to ask her who is younger than me. This is the meaning of being simple and humble, like the life of Jesus himself. As God, he became human, and found in human form He died on the cross. Even though He was cheered as the king entered Jerusalem, He does not ride a horse, but a donkey. It signs that the quality of someone’s life appears from his simple words, attitudes, and actions but meaningful, neither at the good word beauty, wealth nor position.

Second, reducing and changing habits that weaken religious life as well as managing barriers to become a mature and integrated person as religious woman of Sister of Our Lady.

CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD LEADERSHIP

by Sr. Priscilla, SOL

In leadership we encounter different characteristics. Below are some of them.

Listening and availability

Leaders should be present to their sisters/people not only physically but with their whole being. They have motivation to listen actively to their people; they also pay attention to what remains unspoken.

Empathy

A leader should understand and share the feelings with others. Community members are entitled to respect and appreciate for their personal development. Actually a leader should not make herself the measure of judging others but should take them as they are.

Awareness

Leaders need general awareness more especially self awareness so as to understand their people.

Foresight

This characteristic enables a leader to learn about the past and achieve a better understanding about the current reality. 

In conclusion religious leaders should contribute to an even widening web of compassionate relationship towards a space circle of love and compassionate.

SERVING

I am among you as one who serves. Namely to see and to show the meaning of human being according God”s eyes,  not our own eyes is usually  opposite God’s.  The call of Jesus to us is to direct our life to His good news.

"Serving" invites us to always be ready to bear. Bear joy and bear the pain experienced by their partners. A phrase which I listen to that "when I do not have a shelter  I feel alone, bear this pain alone, bear this burden alone, and was not able to". Many voices are heard as an expression of the views of fellow eyes and sip the flavor.  People look at the existing spontaneous eye in front and at the tip of the tongue tastes flavors.  So to speak.

I was try contemplate about it. Who would think and want to see more in the eyes, and who wants to feel the sense of a deeper taste? What if it is comfortable and into it thinking there a process in it? Who really understands? The person who is truly present and alive in it, and follow a process that truly understand. Involved in the process of creating and directing. Sensitivity and acuity in seeing who is behind the eyes, and feel what is behind the expression of words. Give meaning to the existence of a process and values ​​championed. “Serving”,  living the function of leadership is how to build a mental change. How to invite people to really present where I am today, understand what to do, there is a willingness to share skills and abilities, build of  mental  mutually cultivate, foster responsibility, a sense of belonging,  ability to cooperate, human relationships of  healthy, foster creativity,  effectiveness  work and visionary. How to train sensitivity and acuity to understand and grasp the meaning. Think that sometimes limited to just a mentality, but we were told to assume that you're not a "runner". It is a process of finding what is the essential  way in this life to bring new society.

Serving means ready present and included in the process of building mentality. How to direct the life of the members toward our Lord’s good news. Serving present as a mother to feel happiness, pain and fatigue. Listen, give hope, distribute  of strength and love, direct  heart and mind to find what is valuable and essential in life. To shows the meaning of human in the  God’s eyes  that every human is precious.

By Sr. Anselma