“What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
I have met, encountered and worked with so many leaders in my more than 30 years in the corporate world. There were eloquent speakers, whose platform skills are superb and can really capture and hold the attention of their listeners. Their gift of gab is their best weapon to convince and persuade others to agreeing and believing their ideas. On the other hand, there were insightful and prolific writers, who can really come up with well written memos, letters and presentation materials. Their narratives and compositions will even pass as a literary work.
But a good and effective leader is not measured by the flowery speeches he delivers or by the glossy letters he writes. True leadership is measured by the actions he take. A leader’s action speaks louder than the thousands of words he says or writes.
When I look back and think about the good and effective leaders or mentors I had the pleasure to work with, they were those who took actions that had lasting impact on me. I may have forgotten what they have said, but their actions, I will forever remember. Regardless if these acts were simple and small gestures or bold and drastic moves, these leaders established their credibility through their actions. They did not only deliver good speeches or write good memos, they decided and acted when the situation demanded it.
Especially when a leader is required to take actions under pressure. As a popular quote goes, “Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm”. But when under pressure, does the leader take actions that will serve the interest and better the lives of the people around him or will his self-preservation take priority? Again, never mind what he said or promised. What will make him a great leader is what he will do, execute and implement.
Secretary Vince Dizon has the trust and approval of the Filipino people because he is an action man. Only 2 weeks as head of the scandal-riddled DPWH, he already made concrete actions that shows he knows what he’s doing and he means what he says. No grandstanding, just pure action. With him at the helm, we are confident that positive change is coming, no matter how challenging it may be.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about our highest officials. Amidst all these disgusting and nauseous corruption scandals which involve some of them, they are focused on their respective grandstanding, delivering speeches full of rhetoric and theatric stunts. “Pa bibo at bida lahat”. Those involved in the upper and lower house investigative committees are constantly showing off to attract attention and impress others, often in self-serving manner. They interrogate, traumatize, bully, and moralize their witnesses, all disguised in aid of legislation. In all of their interviews, they detest corruption and vow to make everyone guilty accountable, regardless of personalities involved. All talks, no actions.
The President himself, in all his speeches, has eloquently expressed his disgust, anger and resolve to bring justice to the Filipino people. At least, as a first step to his commitment, he already made a concrete action by creating the Independent Commission on Corruption (ICI). But people exact more decisive actions from their President.
Meanwhile, the Filipino people are getting impatient. Rallies and demonstrations have been mounted with a clear message…Enough of these corruptions. Enough of these speeches. Enough of the grandstanding. The people want actions from our leaders. More than their declared promises, our leaders’ actions are considered to be a more credible manifestation of their priority and genuine intention to curb corruption and bring about good governance.
Let us not allow these politicians to deceive us again with their well-crafted speeches. Talk is cheap. Let’s demand accountability, punishment and restitution. Then we can unmask the pretenders. After all, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
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