Confessions of a Leader | Nicole Ann Ancheta

Confessions of a Leader
Every leader has its rise and fall. A rise has its peak and a fall has its ground, but every leader is not
meant to stay on the ground. Difficult times are meant for leaders to overcome. This is for all men
and women who are continually pursuing leadership.

I. THE HARD SIDE

I need one too

One of the hardest times for a leader is when he badly needs an encouragement and can’t find it
from anyone else around him. Often times, leaders are stuck up with “I can do this”, “It’s Okay”, “I’ll get
thru”,” Stay strong, I know I can do it.” The perception that a leader is always strong and must always be
strong is wrong. Every leader needs an encouragement and being an encourager is not just for the leaders
to say. Minsan nais mo ding makarinig ng encouragement sa mga nililead mo, ngunit hindi mo ito naririnig.
A leader may have prayed for his every member or may have encouraged his members but oftentimes not
even one dares to encourage him and pray for him one on one. Kaya stick ka nalang sa encourage yourself.
Minsan nakakadepress talaga ang ganitong situation. Words are powerful. It can truly make you rise as
much as it can make you fall down. It can crush a heart and wound a soul but it can also heal and comfort
one. So, paano na?

 Okay lang. Huwag kang magtampo sa mga paligid mo at mag self-pity. Run to the Lord. He will keep
you in perfect peace. God wants you to know that ultimate comfort will come from Him. Ang comfort
na manggagaling sa tao ay panandalian lamang ngunit ang comfort from God ay perfect at consistent.
Don’t stop in being an encourager just because you don’t get one from others you expect to. Be the
encourager among your leaders. As it is written “Do unto others what you want others to do unto you”.
Kung leader ka, sigurado may leader ka din. Simulan mo sakanila dahil alam mo na kailangan din nila
ito to boost their confidence. You may not know na naghihintay lang din pala sila ng isang encourager.
Be the change you want to other to see (Mother Teresa).

 Reflect. Minsan kaya hindi ka rin nakakatanggap ng encouragement dahil ipinapakita mong hindi mo
kailangan. Huwag kang matakot na mag share ng problema at weaknesses mo to trustworthy persons
like your pastor or leaders and even your lifegroup brothers or sisters. Huwag mong itago lahat ng sakit
at sama ng loob. Yes, you are a leader but it doesn’t mean that you are invulnerable to failures and
weaknesses. You are still a man in this world. Ishare mo din na natetempt ka at nahihirapan ka. Sa mga
panahong ganito, natutunan kong hindi mo kailangang magpaka Superman or Wonderwoman sa harap
ng mga taong nilelead mo. Be true to yourself and to them. Admit that you need one too. According to
experience, mas mararamdaman ng mga kaibigan at mga nililead mo na may tiwala ka sakanila if you
share and open up your problems too. They will also feel comfortable to open up to you. It will add
closeness to your relationship. Let them continually learn from the reality of failures and mistakes that
they could also experience one day.

Letting go

May mga oras na aayawan ka din. Times that would hurt you because they don’t want you anymore.
Letting go of someone whom you invested your time and resources is not easy. They may have their own
reasons to leave you. Maaaring sila ay nadiscourage ng husto sayo, sa mga pagkakamali at pagkukulang
mo. Meron ding sadyang ayaw na magpatulong sayo. Sabi pa nila, “Isang malaking sampal sayo ang iwanan
at layasan ng lifegroup member or dinidisciple mo”. It will truly frustrate you but as a leader, huwag mong
hayaang kainin nito ang confidence mo. There is a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing
 Confessions of a Leader | Nicole Ann Ancheta

(Ecclesiastes 3:5b). kung nais mo talaga ang kanyang spiritual growth, let go of him. Pray hard to address
this kind of situation. Try to fix it and mend your mistakes or shortcomings. Maaaring naghahanap lang
siya ng atensyon, concern at ng pagmamahal mo as a leader. Kung pwede pang ayusin, give it a shot. If you
think it’s time to let go, then let it be.

 Let go with no hard feelings. Huwag maging bitter sa mga taong nawawala sa piling mo dahil hindi mo
naman sila pag-aari. Sila ay ipinagkatiwala lamang ng Panginoon under your care.
 Start over. Meron pang mga ibang tao or disciple na naniniwala sayo at nagtitiwala sayo. Cherish what
you have. Isipin na ang ganitong sitwasyon ay muling isang experience na kapupulutan ng aral na
makakatulong sayo to become better. Learn from your failures and shortcomings. Tuloy pa rin.

Just like me

Ang isa pa sa mga difficult moments as a leader ay yung mamuhay as an example to those you are
leading. Minsan ang hirap mangulit na magdevotion ang mga disciples kung hindi rin consistent ang prayer
at devotion life. Kailangan lahat ng naituturo mo ay ginagawa mo. Lahat ng mga pangako mo ay dapat na
pinaninindigan. You cannot give or teach what you don’t have.

 Therefore, take it as a challenge. Dito mo matututunan mas maging responsible sa actions mo at

decisions mo. Be responsible of your own actions lalo na kung mali ang mga ito. Humingi ng tulong at
payo sa mga leader na siyang humubog ng spiritual growth mo.
 Higpitan ang prayer at devotion life. This is your confidence in leadership.

Hot Topic

Masakit sa isang leader ang pinaguusapan lalo na kung sa sarili mong disciples ito nangyayari. As
a leader, you somehow feel betrayal because you are supposed to be protecting and loving each other not
backstabbing each other.

 Learn the Art of Dedma. If you know it is not true, do not entertain it. Philippians 4:8 says, “Whatever
is true, whatever is pure… think of such things”. Don’t waste your time worrying on things that are not
true.
 Face the Art of Reality. Conflicts are mostly misunderstandings and misinterpretations. Pagusapan ang
dapat pagusapan. Linawin ang mga bagay bagay na malabo.

II. THE HAPPY SIDE

There is a great joy in serving and in leading. Mahirap man sa simula but along the journey, may
kakaibang saya. There’s a lovely joy upon helping others to enjoy life with God. Seeing those you have led
and helped had experienced the same joy you had when receiving God’s love, is such a heartwarming
moment. Don’t let difficult situations dictate your service to God. We are meant to be overcomers.

Never tayong lugi sa pagsagot sa ating calling to lead and serve. God doesn’t lead you into
something because you are strong enough, He leads you into it because he wants you to learn to be strong.
Hindi mo man namamalayan, ikaw pala ay nagmamature na. Ikaw pala ay mas nagiging matatag sa
pagharap mo ng mga problema. We are His instruments to bring good to others as well as recipients of what
 Confessions of a Leader | Nicole Ann Ancheta

is good for our own. We must never give up in pursuing what God has called and commissioned us to do.
Win souls and make disciples. Make every believer a leader.