A Quantum LEAP – Personal Awareness and Leadership Seminar

On November  18-20, 2011, we were at the Cebu Marriott Hotel for the LEAP organized seminar for Executive Assistants, HR and Administrative Professionals. The seminar was going on marvelously, everybody was on high spirits and enjoying themselves. It came to my mind that we have to share what’s happening here with other people whether or not members of our association. During the second day of the seminar, I started looking for somebody who could write an article about the event in order for LEAP to share the learning and the experiences even through writing. I mentioned to Renee what I was thinking and she suggested “Tintin”, one of our participants. That suggestion was seconded by Erlynne and I thought this was a very good idea.  It seems my LEAP colleagues were aware of her talent in writing. Tintin is not a member of LEAP and so it would be a good opportunity to hear from one with a different point of view. We talked to her and she did not even hesitate in saying yes. She willingly accepted our request and was just happy to do it. So, matter solved, somebody will write an article. True enough, she is very talented and submitted this article in a short time. To Tintin, thank you very much – we salute you.

Tintin is the Executive Assistant of the VP for Operations of Clark Development Corporation, Clark Field, Pampanga

-Tess Francisco-Floedl

by Christine C. Trent-Mosuela 

The Seminar was organized by the League of Executive Assistants of the Philippines (LEAP) in coordination with Power Speak, Inc., with Mr. Severino “Joey” P. Reyes as our Resource Speaker.  Around 50 EAs and Administrative Personnel from various companies in the Metro Manila, Makati, Angeles City, and Cebu areas joined and participated in the said seminar. 

Ms. Jinky Aguinaldo, LEAP’s Chairman, challenged us when she said that we may already know the things that will be discussed.  However, these are just reminders because sometimes, through the years, we tend to forget them and we have to look back and go back to the basics.

Another aim of LEAP is to challenge the EAs to explore, question and discover their lives to expand their personal and professional skills.  The seminar was also envisioned to be refresher, not on the skills of being an EA but on their worth and value as individuals and as team workers as well.  As a whole, the seminar focused on the inner person. 

Basically, the seminar kicked off with the Speaker asking us to form ourselves into groups of five and share about ourselves.  There was a scribe who wrote everything that was being said by the speakers and eventually everyone said something about each other; it was a feel good activity.  It was a moment of saying something nice about us and then the others confirmed and added even more.  It was a time of giving and receiving compliments.

One of the things discussed was the Pygmalion Effect or Rosenthal effect in the Workplace.  It refers to the phenomenon which is, the greater the expectation placed upon people (often children or students and employees), the better they perform. Our speaker, Joey Reyes motivated us to think positively of ourselves to get positive results.  It is also true of bosses, when a boss has high expectations of an employee this raises the employee’s self-expectations, resulting in an increase in their own performance.  When bosses have low expectations of their employees, performance is negatively impacted.  When someone trusts in our abilities and believes in us, especially at times when we are doubtful of our own abilities, it compels us to reciprocate by fulfiling those expectations.  Sometimes it is the trust others have in us that propel us to new heights and motivate us to outperform.

Three R’s to avoid

Life will not be as successful as it should be if we will harbor Resentment, Resistance and Revenge. 

Resentment is a negative emotional reaction when things are said or done to us.  Resentments should be written in water instead of carving it on stone or wood.

Resistance is refusal to patch up with the ones who have wronged us, or so we thought.

Revenge slows down work as we concentrate on getting even.  Even God said, “Revenge is Mine”.  We have to learn to forgive and forget the past hurts so that we can move on.

PROGRAMMED FROM THE PAST

As individuals, we have been cared for and loved from infancy, or unfortunately sometimes, the opposite.  As a child grows, there are certain values that are being picked up from the parents and the caregivers and these will be the pattern that will be used in life into adulthood.  The choice is ours, whether we will continue being bitter or desire to live a better life in spite of our past hurts and disappointments.

FOCUS

We were taught to focus on our goals if we would like to succed in life.  Goals have to be:  Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Risky and Time-bound.  However, in the course of our trying to achieve our goals, obstacles will always be around.  It is the manner by which we handle these obstacles that would determine if we could attain our goals.  Intention always matters.  If we have the intention to succeed, then there will be various mechanisms that we can think of and apply to achieve positive results.

I AM

We have to know who we really are.  The motivator asked us to write down five of our characteristics.  He told us to concentrate on the BE-DO-HAVE: Meaning, you need to BE first, before you can DO, and then you can HAVE.  He repeatedly said that “as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”  The way we perceive ourselves in our mind is what is going to come out from our speech and from our actions. We have the opportunity to change our PROGRAMS if these are not helping us become the best person that God has envisioned us to be.  Mr. Reyes said that “we were created in the image and likeness of God,” therefore, there is good and beauty in us.  We should not think of ourselves as otherwise. 

GIVING AND TAKING

“A person is paid in direct proportion to the service that he renders mankind.”  It is another way of saying, “As you sow, so shall you reap.”  If you give peace and love to everyone you know and meet, you will receive peace and love in return.  If you are hateful and cruel, hatred and cruelty will enter your life.

We were challenged to begin neutralizing our past negative feelings and start to do things for the right reasons.  When we become the person that we can love and respect, then we will be loved and respected by others.  This is what we must strive for everyday.  Become a leader of GOOD, and help others by having the strength to overcome the hatred of the world.

When we start living our lives as a giver, we will fall in love with ourselves, life and everyone we meet.

The Seminar wasn’t just about the lectures.  It was also about the camaraderie developed among the participants.  As a first timer in LEAP, I saw how closely-knit the group is.  I witnessed that most of the members know each other like the “palm of their hands”; maybe because they come from the same company, the same office.  But I guess one factor that made them closer to each other is that they have a common denominator and passion, and that is their love for their profession and the people they work for and with.

On our first night, Marriott Hotel sponsored a Barbeque Night by the Poolside.  It was an awesome experience seeing everyone on their feet dancing the night away with our speaker.  Some members like Camille, Riza and Kathy went up to jam with the band.  It was fun seeing everyone having FUN.  Even Ms. Renee couldn’t help it but dance and boogie!  It was fun doing the L.A. Walk when the song “Achy Breaky Heart” was sung.

Sharing of experiences also happened during the breakfasts and lunches.  Albeit short, the things that we have learned from and about each other is something that we will treasure and would like to tallk about again when we see each other in the next meetings, fellowships or maybe another seminar.

We may not have had the time to explore the beautiful City of Cebu, Queen Cityof the South, as it is fondly called, due to time constraints, but being with the LEAP team is just as exciting and fun. 

To the LEAP leadership, KUDOS for putting up a very successful seminar inCebu.  Till we meet again!