Happy holidays!

Yesterday marked the last day of work for the year. Today, I’m on mandatory leave until the second day of January 2008 (not that you’d find me in the office if it weren’t mandatory). Then it’ll be back to the classroom and the office by the third. But the third of January is still a long way off in my calendar. And I’m determined to make the most out of this holiday break.

Actually, I have been on holiday and celebratory mode the past few days but have not really been able to enjoy all the Christmas parties and gift-giving since there were still last-minute year-end reports to accomplish. But that was ok as my upbeat mood pepped me up to finish the reports and urgent proposals a day or two ahead of the last work day.

Searching for a leader

Last week I nominated my colleague to be Dean of our college.

Why?

This is not a question I have asked myself about the nominee. In my opinion, she is one among several people in the college who possess the qualities of a good leader. In my book, she wins hands-down in my personal choice for a leader I’d follow.

But I’m posing the question because I sense that other people in my college do not know my reasons for nominating her. So I’m posting here excerpts from my nomination letter:

Types of leaders

I’ve been hating myself lately because more and more, as I find myself embroiled in bureaucratic red tape, pettiness seems to be the easiest way to function. And so it is “better” to blame others for whatever mistakes are committed along the way, it is “gratifying” to see how others scurry away in fear of being bawled out, to “importantly” announce to whoever cares to listen how “I” have successfully and signlehandedly overcome obstacles, etc.