Eight Rules of Leadership

In this time of upheaval, we are all called to engage in various forms of leadership. Leadership as a concept is quickly moving. Today, it is not about a few people with a vision pursued to lead the masses, but about each of us discovering the leader within us claiming our individual responsibility for the realities of life.

During the PACSA Seminar-Workshop at Boracay last July 28-30, I only thought of ordinary experiences being there, however it appears differently. Having Mr. Eugenio “ Boy” Abunda Jr. as the last speaker was an awesome experience! The man I’ve only witnessed on TV screens turned to be a speaker standing in front of me, very visible and real.

His talk leaves unforgettable lines for the student leaders to ponder upon. It was all about the 8 Rules of Leadership according to Nelson Mandela- a man who had learned inside the prison for 27 years, a man who liberated a country from a system of violent prejudice and helped unite white and black, oppressor and oppressed, in a way that had never been done before, as the President of South Africa.


1.Courage is not the absence of fear — it’s inspiring others to move beyond it.

Courage has many faces and often we dismiss it in ourselves thinking we do not measure up to what courage really is. Fear is inevitable in leadership and we have to deal with it whatever it takes. Sometimes, we need to feel alright for others to feel good and pretend not to be afraid even if we do. Think that “I am strong even if I’m not”- is COURAGE.


2.Lead from the front — but don’t leave your base behind.

We lead for our people and neglecting them does not show good governance. If I lead from the front, it doesn’t mean I’m the only person to decide. My base is my people, my strength is their presence and my power as a leader does not only come from me.


3.Lead from the back — and let others believe they are in front.

Being always in front is an act of selfishness. There are times that we have to trick our leadership standards. As a leader, we should allow ourselves to be led also by others. According to Mandela, it is wise to persuade people to do things and make them think it was their own idea. It is nice to let other people take the lead while I have the support from the back.




4.Know your enemy — and learn about his favorite sport.


5.Keep your friends close — and your rivals even closer.

Rule no. 4 and 5 aims only one thing and this is to neutralize our rivals. Every action corresponds to a personal motive. As Mandela said, people act in their own interest not because of a defect but it was simply a fact of human nature. Embracing rivals closer is a way to know them better and knowing them better is a way to control them. We have to be keen for they were more dangerous on their own identity.


6.Appearances matter — and remember to smile.

Symbols are everywhere and people give much meaning to a certain symbol. Mandela knew that symbols matter as much as substance. As a leader, we must be careful about our appearance for it reflects our personality, and always wearing a smile on our face shows remedy for our everyday endeavor.




7.Nothing is black or white

Life is never either. There should always be one and only one decision. Decisions are complex and according to Mandela, to look for simple explanation to a decision is the bias of human brain for it does not correspond to reality since nothing is ever straightforward as it appears.

There’s no such thing in leadership as black or white only means that discerning is very necessary in decision-making with the help of intellect and wisdom within.


8.Quitting is leading too.

A leader must be open-minded. If the best idea has been raised, the leader must abandon his failed idea either in task or relationship and accept what is for the common betterment. So, quitting sometimes can be a stepping stone and not a stumbling block for a progressive outcome.

There’s no such thing as perfect leader. We are all prone to flaws and lapses. What’s important is we take every step as a challenge; never give up, think of surpassing all obstacles and; learn to weigh between good and bad sacrifices.

I tried to understand every detail of Mr. Abunda’s talk. It looks simple but seems difficult to apply. He had ignited me when he said” Fight battle step by step and know your alliance.” I had realized that everyone is vulnerable to circumstances, yet all can still find solutions to find a way out and that is aLEADER!