The Need for Leaders with Sense of Responsibility

​by: Nathaniel A. Saquiban

Sense of responsibility, by the term itself, is being sensitive to responsibility. It is simply doing our best to perform our work completely and excellently. It is staying focus of what needs to be done rather than being lax, procrastinate, and in a lackadaisical attitude. It is like being haunted by the task and cannot rest until the work is finished. A person who has sense of responsibility is uncomfortable or uneasy seeing an unfinished business. Normally, that person is not living in a comfort zone and always on the go or up to the task. He or she need not be reminded or motivated to do the work as he or she is on top of every situation.
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In part, sense of responsibility is not only in terms of work performance but also in the area of accountability. It is assuming responsibility or accountability when something went wrong under a person’s watch or supervision. Naturally, a person passes the blame to others and run away from responsibility when setbacks occur. Not so for a person with sense of responsibility because he or she even answers for the mistakes committed by others or his or her subordinates. As John Maxwell said, “A sense of responsibility is the clearest indication of mature leadership”.

How many leaders today have this kind of character? Sometimes, it is disheartening to watch and listen to the responses of leaders under panel of investigators who put their subordinates to peril and in a precarious situation even if the matter is under their command and authority. They hastily, negligently, and selfishly make wrong decisions for their personal advantage but when problems arise, they deny involvement to such thing or to such subject of investigation. Never did they know that they will be all the more esteemed when they take responsibility of the consequences of their actions or decisions.

Leaders with sense of responsibility, thus, is not after position or fame but rather service. They are always mindful of what they can accomplish rather than what they can gain. They know that every function they take is not for personal glory but an additional responsibility. The more they accept responsibility, the more they get promoted to higher office and become great. Winston Churchill said in this wise, “The price of greatness is responsibility”. Nonetheless, in some parts of the world, only few are willing to pay the price yet they want the benefits. Thus, they resort to swift yet illegal means to get what they wanted.

Our country is in need of leaders with sense of responsibility. People who feel responsible for the ongoing poverty among large number of the populace and whenever there is economic challenges. They are prompted or alerted by the negative circumstances and forced to arise in order to find solution. They cannot afford to sit back and relax knowing that their constituents or fellow citizens are in the midst of trouble. These are the type of leaders who do not only give the answer but they become the answer themselves because their existence brings confidence and assurance to many that Philippines has a better future. May their tribe multiply and be countless.