Experts advise how to become a compassionate leader

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

Leaders who self-care and who not only look after but more importantly indeed help others, particularly their followers and subordinates, are what the world needs, especially during trials and tribulations.

Mentor to businessmen and entrepreneur himself, Francis J. Kong, a frequent visitor to the UAE for inspirational and business messages before his countrymen as well as other nationalities like at the 2018 Emirates Festival of Literature, talked about this topic at the recent weekend webinar on “Global Business Strategy and Leadership.”

The webinar is part of the ongoing series of “PICPA Middle East e-Conference” initiative of the three million-globally strong 90-year-old Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants, a non-stock, non-profit organisation with over 130 affiliates and chapters around the world, including in the UAE.

The other webinar speaker was Dubai-based PICPA official Lyndon Magsino who discussed global business landscape, emerging markets, global business strategy, and foreign direct investments in the Philippines.

In the areas of diversification, mergers and acquisitions, Magsino quoted from the Book of Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 of the Holy Bible: “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, or even eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.”

His “Roadmap to Success” is about nourishing a dream with well-thought of business plan combined with full faith and trust in God’s guidance, and full execution and action: “It will not be smooth sailing. Get up from every trial. Face the challenges. Get up and move forward and keep on doing this because this builds up the momentum. You will enjoy the fruits of your labour.”

You will never know your full power until you get to unleash your power,” Magsino also said.

Kong, author of 20 books who initially carved a name in the manufacturing and retail industries, outlined the characteristics of a compassionate leader. He said character is above competence.

Kong said these are the essentials of leadership in these times when the pandemic “has hit us” sharply damaging the Maslow’s Theory on the Hierarchy of Needs (physiological, safety, belongingness and love, esteem, and self-actualisation).

The reason for every leader to be emphathetic especially so when the COVID19 uncertainties “may last for six, 12 and 18 months more and we need some semblance of sanity, taking care of people.”