Three weeks ago, I gave a few concrete suggestions to students who are aspiring to become effective leaders in their respective student organizations and communities.

Now, I’d like to share more practical advice for those who wish to accept the challenge of leadership especially in these times where our country needs a new breed of young Filipino leaders who will help shape a better future for our nation.

1) YOUNG FILIPINO LEADERS SHOULD REALIZE THAT IT’S ALRIGHT TO FAIL.

Many young leaders fear failure and tend to remain in their comfort zones and avoid taking risks. Thus, the organizations they lead have a hard time growing and improving.

It is imperative for young leaders to understand that failure is part of leadership.

There have been so many great leaders who have failed not just once but several times in their lives, yet they have gone on to become revered icons in their respective fields.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs was actually the founder of Apple but after a few years, he was ousted from the company by his own board of directors. After his ouster, Jobs went into momentary depression but picked himself up and continued to upgrade his leadership and management skills. Apple became a floundering company until Jobs came back to become its CEO once again, introducing innovations in the company which led to the development of the revolutionary Apple iPod and Apple Mac Book. Now, Apple is considered to be one of the top computer companies in the world. His experience shows all of us that one should not fear failure because this can also teach us valuable lessons that will make us become better leaders.

2) YOUNG FILIPINO LEADERS SHOULD LEARN TO DELEGATE TASKS TO HIS FELLOW OFFICERS.

In my early years as a young leader, I thought that the best leaders are those who are able to do practically everything that an organization needs. But I always ended up very tired and just after a few months, burned out.

I also saw that many of my fellow officers began to become disinterested in helping out in the organization. Many of them started to miss regular meetings.

This made me realize that there is a reason why an organization not only has one but several leaders. The biggest challenge for a leader is to find the right persons, with the right set of skills, to work on certain activities for the organizations.

If someone is good in public speaking, that person can perhaps be the public relations officer. By giving your fellow officers responsibility, you also give them power and accountability which in turn help motivate them to become more active in the organization. Many officers and members begin to leave organizations because they don’t feel they are needed or that they actually contribute something to the group.

3) ANYONE CAN BE A LEADER.

I took up this leadership class in college under Dr. Anna Miren Intal and in this class, we learned that the famous notion that leaders are born is not entirely true. Anyone can be a leader if he or she would just set his or her mind to it.

In grade school, I didn’t consider myself as a leader. But when I went to high school and college, I chose to become a leader and began to learn from my fellow leaders and mentors.

Leadership is a choice that one has to make since this will not have implications just on the leader but also among his or her members. Leadership is something that you also cannot learn just by reading all the leadership books. The only way for one to learn the art of being a good and effective leader is by experience.

I hope that these short pieces of advice will help inspire more young Filipinos to aspire to become leaders for our country. I have always believed that the Philippines has so many potential great leaders among its youth if only more of them will decide to take on the challenge.

Harvey S. Keh is director for Youth Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship at the Ateneo School of Government.

Comments are welcome at harveykeh@gmail.com