CAUTION: RISK OF GETTING A BAD IMPRESSION OF ME.
Before I begin, I will like to say that it took me a lot of courage to come up with this post, especially when i know that if i ever come up with a post that is kind of showing off to others, some haters will just find fault with me.
Nonetheless, I decided to do up this post to prove that I'm not someone who shows off but someone who is speaking from real experience from how I was just a typical normal student to a leader that I am now.
"Leaders are made, not born."
As quoted, everyone is not born to be a leader. You don't see a newborn baby shouting "charge!" at the first minute right? Everyone can be a leader, it's just whether there is any right opportunities and the suitable environment for one to develop their leadership skills.
There are different kind of leaders. I must admit that I met different kind of leaders but not all.
There are good ones that are willing to help you when you face trouble as a leader. Then there are those not so good ones that throw you with shitty work that you have to do no matter what.
Nonetheless, be prepared to face different kind of leaders and learn from experience.
I was just a normal typical secondary student that was enjoying life in school. I wasn't good in studies either. I must admit that i got into troubles before such as getting into fights in school. HAHAHA it's guys nature to get into violence.
The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority —Kenneth Blanchard
1) Greendale Broadcasting Corporation - Chairperson
But the question that changes everything was...
"I think you suit the criteria to be the chairperson of the CCA. Do you want to consider it?"
This question was asked by my CCA teacher, Ms Lee.
I must say that I wasn't very sure of what to do at that point of time. I know I was god damn happy that I suit the criteria and was approached by the teacher. It was like my wish to like control the whole CCA as and when I like. At that point of time, i never thought that leadership was such a never ending experience. I thought it's like a great chance to be part of planning logistics, manpower etc. I gladly took up the offer, not knowing of the dangers and risks ahead of me.
As I was invested as the Chairperson of my CCA, I felt a sense of pride. It was something i never experience before. Even my mum don't even know that I'm being invested as the Chairperson of my CCA. HAHAHA.
I thought being the chairperson of the CCA is an easy task. It turns out not to be it.
For the first few months, I struggled to meet the expectations of the others.
One thing that I never wanted to mention again was the conflict between me and my Vice Chairperson. There was a slight misunderstanding between him and the teacher, thus resulting in the conflict.
Honestly speaking, I must admit that at that point of time, it was really hard to cope with that stress and conflict. I didn't have any idea what to do or even a solution to reduce the conflict.
The only thing we know is that we use our voices to settle it. The one who is louder wins.
Even the talks between the both of us was probably meant to end in worsen conflict.
At that point of time, I really wish I have never accepted that offer. But it was too late anyway.
Because of this conflict and tremendous stress, my health declined. Ultimately, I fall.
I was in the hospital, talking to my mum about how I feel. That moment was probably the only time that I was able to vomit everything out of my heart and chest. I felt such a great relief.
It was the best moment yet.
As I recovered from that panic attack, I tried my best to avoid any further conflicts with him but at the same time maintain the working relationship with him. I consulted many of my seniors and friends. I even broke down in front of my coach in the Leadership Challenge Camp. That was the time where i really felt so relieved. Tonnes of advices and skills was taught and passed down from my coach to me. After the camp, I realised that
Leadership is not just a position, it's about the experience, strategy, mindset, maturity, responsibility and commitment of one.
It took me many months to get over the conflict, accept the aftermath and move on with the amount of time before i stepped down.
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(Pic: Group shot with the Seniors, Principal, Vice Principal and Ex Vice Principal in Greendale Honours Day 2011)
My definition of leadership is this: We are never a leader when success is all about us growing and learning new things. We are a leader only when we pass down the stuffs we learnt and help to grow others.
After what it seems to be the first and most terrifying incident of my leadership journey, I was faced with a bigger challenge. Managing a CCA with more than 120 members when Infocomm and GBC merged as one. It was stressful. But it was worth it.
This amount of members may be too much, but I was ready to face the challenge.
I am not alone. Together with Ben, Xavier and a few other leaders in Infocomm, we managed to plan and organised a camp and also a games day kind of thing.
(Pic: GBC Games Day in 2012)
(Pic: 'Event Backbone' of Greendale Honours Day in 2012)
All in all, the leadership journey as the Chairperson of Greendale Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) was indeed a great experience. It was something that was unfamiliar to me at first. Throughout my term of office, I learnt many things from various people. For example, I have learnt many things from Xavier in that short period of time. His leadership was way better than me. I must say there are a lot of things that I have yet to learn at that point of time. Other include management of crisis, creation of teamwork, enhance the flow of operations as well as motivating people to do their best in whatever they could.
The position and the badges I received is only the 1st stage of the Leadership model. What matter most is when people knows how good you are in term of leadership that they are willing to trust you with whatever they can in order to make an event or project successful.
2) Greendale Broadcasting Corporation - Senior Advisory Board (SAB) - Director
As the ex-chairperson of GBC, one thing I wasn't able to let go was the presidency selection of the CCA. Together with Ben and Xavier, we managed to come up with a board named Senior Advisory Board (SAB) to provide advice especially in terms of management. The SAB is more focused on the annual presidency selection.
(Pics: SAB involvement in Greendale CCA fair 2013)
(Pic: Full attendance of SAB during Chinese New Year Celebration 2013)
Although there were little of appearance, there are times where we go back to the CCA to observe how it is being run. For example, I just came back from the full dress rehearsal for honours day on Friday and I must say I have observed quite a lot from the way the CCA works as well as their event management.
Being in this board really help to train myself to be better in observing how people does their work and provide feedbacks, advices when deemed necessary. It's not about the technical skills anymore. I trust my juniors that they can pass down these skills to the next batches. But one thing that is difficult to grab hold of it is the management skills. I'm not saying I don't trust my juniors in managing the whole team. I must admit that at this age, we tend to see things so easily, thinking that a problem can be solved so easily. I've been through it and I know it the best.
My aim is to eradicate that thinking by providing the best advices I can give through observations. That is what I should do, as a Senior Advisor.
Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other. —John F. Kennedy
