HOW TO BE A BETTER LEADER


(The following suggestions are adapted from guidelines prepared for a Leadership Retreat of the Puerto Rican Alliance of Philadelphia, held in April 1980. They were also among the materials distributed at the National Congress of Puerto Rican Rights Leadership Training Conference held in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, July 31-Aug. 1, 1982.)


Nobody is a know-it-all


Ask those below you about things you don't understand. Don't express your approval or disapproval lightly. Be a pupil before you become a teacher. Ask questions and get the advice of those around you before making decisions. Act on the correct ideas. Listen also to mistaken views from those you are leading. Don't shut people up because you disagree with them or they have wrong ideas. Next time, they might . have the right idea. Listen to all ideas, but act only on the ones you think are correct.

2. Raise the political level of those you lead

Sometimes, members spend too much time on "bochinche" and talking behind people's backs. In meetings, some problems are passed over, but as soon as the meeting is over, people talk. Some people confuse a social agency and a political organization. Some become so active in day-to-day work that they fail to read and study the basic questions and issues that confront us--they can't see the forest for the trees. Some think we just have to keep shouting "Fight Discrimination" and don't deal with the concrete ways our people suffer discrimination and what they can do to guide those concrete battles. All these problems come from lack of political education. NCPRR leaders should allot time to study how society works if we want to change it.

3. Every committee and member should have one central task

Some people say, "What meeting is there tonight?" They belong to three or four committees but don't do a good job in any. Some committees have four or five things to do but never decide what is their central task. That doesn't mean you should do just one thing. It means that if you have four things to do, one of them is central, and you should pay most attention to it, work the others around it. Especially in a volunteer organization, with members having limited time, this is important.


4 Ask for criticism and give yourself criticism


There are no supermen and wonderwomen among us. We all make mistakes. The important thing is to find our mistakes before they get too big. All committee leaders should ask "What criticism do you have of me?" to their members. If you jump on people when they start to criticize, they will shut up. Then, when you are drowning and need help, they will keep quiet and watch you go down for the third time. If you criticize yourself, that's even better because some members will miss the mistakes that only you can see. The aim of criticism is not to attack or hurt a person. Criticism is like soap and a good brush, to clean away dirt, How-do you feel about a person who doesn't bathe regularly? Criticism is a bath for your mind.


5. A team is everybody working together


Some people are power hitters, some are good fielders, some good runners. Some start well, but finish lousy. And some start slowly but finish in a blaze. Not everybody can write a leaflet, or repair a boiler or car, speak at a rally, or agitate a meeting, or defend a grievance hearing, or cook a good meal, or organize a dance.

A good leader is not the one with the biggest mouth, but the one who can get everyone working together as a team and get each person to contribute to the maximum. A good leader makes everyone feel he or she is worthwhile and is contributing, and helps those who are having trouble to improve.


6. Build strong committees


In some committees, one person makes all the decisions, monopolizes the conversation and loves to hear themsleves talk even though people may start to fall asleep. Those that are quiet attend the meeting in body only. Some differences between members are never resolved and so people are united in name only.

To make committees strong, all members present should be encouraged to put their ideas out fully. All major problems should be put on the table, decisions made and carried out.
When there are strong differences, the principle of majority vote must be followed, or if the problem is not urgent, time should be given for more consideration.

At the same time, we should watch out for ultra-democracy, the method of everyone getting equal time and an equal say before every decision. Both monopolizing of a meeting and ultra-democracy are no good.
Often in committees, a "permanent opposition" develops, a member or two who disagree with most everything that happens. Leaders should seek to pull such discontented members to the side, meet with them individually, seek to resolve problems that the whole group should not have to spend time on. Sometimes, these individual sessions will solve the problem. While an open airing of views is important, wasting everyone's time on the discontent of one or two people can weaken a committee.


7. Beware of opportunism among the people


In the capitalist society that we live in, a small section of our community have been corrupted and believe that they should get everything for nothing. These persons may try to use our organizations then give nothing back to the community. All leaders should uphold the principle that work is good and honorable, that the hardest-working people are the best people, and that laziness and opportunists should be called what they are.


8. Unite with those who disagree with you


We have come together from all parts of the country. We should not expect to all speak the same language and look at things the same way, or enjoy the sameamusements. If we agreed on everything' then our problems would have been solved long ago. But pay special attention to uniting and working with those who disagree with you. It is easy to work with someone you agree with, but the harder job is the more important.


9. Remember class differences and look at the whole


There are no millionaires in the NCPRR, but some are better off than others. Some are professionals, some own businesses, some are st-udents, some office workers, factory workers, some unemployed or on public assistance. Those especially who make a little more money should remember that they are a minority. When they plan an event or a fundraiser, they should remember that just because you can afford it, doesn't mean that others can.

To those who have nice homes or apartments, fighting for decent housing is not such a big problem, but to those who don't have a good house, it's the biggest problem. Some make a little more money, but have a big family;and sickness and hospital bills have them in a bad way. Some have a good job, but fall unemployed or sick and then have a rough time. Some are concerned only about their family and don't care about the children or problems of others.

A good leader will urge others to take the attitude "All of us, together will rise." The NCPRR is for all Puerto Ricans who are oppressed, but especially for the most oppressed. We should never forget that and always look at the whole situation. You should be sensitive to the personal problems of those you lead.


10. Guard against arrogance - look at both sides


The more success you have, the more you must watch against arrogance. For anyone in a leading position, this is a matter of principle. Arrogant people create divisions, because those who have made mistakes feel bad around them and do not show their faces. Flattery and exaggerated praise are a bad habit, but leaders should commend those who have done good work; and members should commend leaders who have provided good direction.
In judging any activity, organization, or indificual, always look at both sides, the positive and the negative. It it is 70% good and 30% bad, then it is good. If it is less than 70%, there are serious problems. But we should always strive for Q% or better, which is excellent.


If you study these hints and try to practice them, chances are your leadership will improve. No one is born a leader of the people. After the first steps of anger at oppression and love for tfie people, you must learn everything else.

Leadership of the people in their fight for equality and freedom is a science. Only by studying methods of good leadership, practicing them, can you become better.


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Last updated: July 6th, 1996 ............................ [Since January 1st, 1996] Send comments or suggestions to
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Be very gentle.