How does a leader re-fuel?

I have encountered an article in one of the leading newspaper, the title says “LEADERSHIP requires energy”. I became interested as I myself is considered to be the leader in our team, aside from that I am also looking for a leader quality in our organization and I am in distressed because I badly needed mentoring. Unfortunately for me I have stayed for more than 2 years in this organization and until now I can not seem to find anyone whom I can call my leader.

Going back to the article it says..”leading requires a great deal of mental and emotional vigor. If you’re a leader, you have to initiate, which means you often have to be the first one to rise and say, “Let’s go.” You frequently have to say, “Let’s go,” to people who don’t want to go, which means you have to persuade them that they need to follow you.”

I can not agree more based on my experience I often find myself in full agility and alertness to convince my team to follow me. Aside from that I have to solve complex problems, acting as mediator, negotiator, counselor and encourager to my fellow co-workers. Sure this job is intellectually stimulating and personally fulfilling, but somehow its physically and emotionally draining. Not to mention that some people in our organization tend to sapped my strength and zapped my spirit with their stupid decisions. If a leader is drained how does one tend to move on and re-fuel the energy?

360-degree appraisal

I get antsy right around performance review time..Why? Its because I am no GOD..just because some damn business man put me in this position does not mean I am special. I am ordinary and I am no better than the rest of my colleugues..I dislike being put in a predicament where the lives of the people that I evaluate will be in my hands, the result will either recommend them for promotion or worst terminate them. And I definitely hate bringing the bad news…I believe that there is always a room for improvement..YES! some people maybe slow at this moment but, that does not mean that they are slow forever. I like giving people chances..oppurtunities to improve.

I found a solution where I do not have to be the sole judge..It is called 360-degree appraisals, rather than the typical supervisor-subordinate scenario. 360-degree appraisal acts more like a jury: I will have to bring together the developers who actually deal with the ratee everyday, we will create a pool of information and perspectives on which we can all base our decision. Plus, it also enables me to compare my perception on the ratee’s programming skills, styles and performance with the other evaluators. Wooh!.. What a relief!

This is really a Hello world! for me…

Wow..this really feels like writing my first hello world application..hoooo…dejavu..geez..believe it or not I am new to blogging..Im just a silent reader for many famous bloggers out there..but, I have not tried writing my own..

What made me decide to start my own blog?..well..simply put it is a requirement of United Nation Development Programme as part of their Exchange Grant. I was chosen to participate in the upcoming Asterisk Conference in Malaysia (http://www.asterconference.com/) and I am required to write a blog..topic?..ofcourse all about the conference activities…So thats all for now..

Watch out for more interesting topic about me…(hahaha as if!)