I heard in the barangay hall, “Magpakabait kayo, mainit ang ulo ni OIC.” This isn’t the first time I heard this. I’ve heard something similar in private organizations too.

This reveals something about leadership: people tend to respond to mood instead of the day’s tasks and bigger company objectives. Just imagine the impact if all our organizations were like this.

As leaders, this information should tell us how our mood impacts efficiency, but it should not be the driver of productivity. It also doesn’t mean that leaders should always be in a bad mood just to hit targets.

I ask one question: Do people understand the importance of what they’re doing, or are they simply managing the leader’s mood? For leaders, perhaps the question is even simpler: Are people responding to the work, or to my mood?

Leadership is not just about what is effective or productive. It is also about helping people understand why their work matters, so that they can do what needs to be done even when the leader isn’t around, isn’t happy, or isn’t having a good day.

A healthy organization should not depend on the emotional temperature of one person. It should be guided by shared purpose, clear expectations, and people who have learned to take responsibility for the work.