My Mom’s Leadership Legacy

My Mom’s Leadership Legacy                                                      July 7, 2015

by: Ms. Eugene Martin

Quite interestingly, these past few weeks, I have received inquiries and comments through personal messages in the FB, CPs and email regarding leadership - - theories, styles, great leaders, effective / ineffective leadership, and some (which is somewhat flattering) commended my style of leadership. I responded accordingly and appreciated their effort for considering my opinion on the topic. (I referred others to the Grade 8 Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao Module No. 8 on Leadership and Followership).

Particularly inquisitive on the concept, approximately 70% of our books at home are all about leadership and management. Looking back, I remembered our topic in our Research in College… it was “self-monitoring and leadership emergence”. I think my interest on it was kindled by how my parents managed and led our small scale family shoemaking enterprise sometime in the ‘70s in Marikina City. Young as I was, I was exposed to their distinct way of managing and leading people.  The values, styles and principles I hold were reinforced by that experience.

As far as I can recall, they had more or less 10 workers as ‘sapateros’ (shoemakers), ‘mag-aareglo’ (uppermakers), and piece-rate workers. During rush situations, I could hear them saying “apupungan ‘yan” (- rush work…. which I think is a famous and unique term in a shoemaking community).  My dad would join the other shoemakers, my mom would continue applying adhesive to the leather and I would help in assembling the shoe boxes. I would see my mom calmly talking to the workers, with her endearing demeanor and encouraging presence. (Additional note: Never in my life did I hear my mom shout nor see her point a finger to anyone.. no.. not even under very stressful situation). I would hear her say, “Matatapos natin yan.” (“We can finish it”). I would observe faster pace with smiles on the workers’ faces. The sound of the hammer, sewing machine and trimming machine seemed so coordinated to produce music to my ears. Random and intermittent laughter would fill the place because someone cracked a joke. Nobody noticed the time and the workload felt so light. And I, definitely, enjoyed and loved it. I grew up with it.

I had a lot of experiences with ‘working’ at home with my family.  My mom left a legacy of calmness, attentiveness, respect and a sense of urgency, as a wife, daughter, sister, friend, a manager / leader of our home-based small business and most especially, as a mother. I felt so important and so loved and I had all her time, affection and attention. J

My mom died 28 years ago (last June 25^th was her death anniversary). A simple and admirable person, my mom worked full-time in the different roles she assumed. She started the day by going to church, then to the market, then to the shop, and there were lots in between for interpersonal skills and values developmentJ and of course, quality time with me and my dad. Then after dinner, she would visit her checklist and plan for the next day’s activities (she had a notebook with Raymond Lauchengco’s picture on the cover J)… then some TV watching...  and at the end of the day, we would pray.

With the significant circumstances I had encountered in my life at the start of this year, I am blessed to have experienced the love and great care from my mom, in order to survive some of life’s idiosyncrasies. I have realized that my mom, possessed the following traits which made her accomplish the goals, made people move, bring out the best in them, and earned love and respect from them.

I had coined an acronym to highlight her traits… her GREAT CARE:

She was Goal-oriented; She showed Respect to others; Had an Effective human relations skills; With a very positive and encouraging Attitude; Valued Teamwork; Celebrated even little successes; Exuded genuine Affection; Gave appropriate Rewards and recognition (simple yet remarkable); Manifested Exemplary leading, delegating and proper follow-up.

It is so invigorating to see a group of people being led by someone with great care - - where people follow out of love, respect, care and appreciation rather than out of fear, pressure, aversion from threat and just mere compliance. What a way to lead!

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
-John Quincy Adams

I could share a lot of inspiring stories with my mom as the central character. I have indexed all the valuable stories in my heart. Her legacy on leadership (though she may not know it that time, that she was actually practicing servant leadership) is one of the most treasured legacies she made. She definitely made a remarkable impact in our lives and made us realize the importance of leaving something lasting behind that would make the lives of others better. I hope I do, too… Deo volente (God willing).