Case Summary- David Ruiz

Case Summary Blog Entry – Summer Martinez and Lauren Jones

Belizean Perspective on Leadership - David Ruiz

From a Belizean himself, David Ruiz addresses leadership as a need to first start with ones own abilities being recognized be someone else.  There is a leader in all of us and recognition encourages best leadership qualities within.  This is how Ruiz himself was discovered as a community leader and continued to grow stronger. David Ruiz has been involved in grassroots community building for twenty years. His experience has led him to develop greater leadership skills throughout the years. He spent twenty years with one group, which he considers to be advantageous because it lends to the stability of leadership within an organization. Ruiz described leadership as four recommendations when rafting which describes leadership from beginning to end. He spearheaded the Historical and Cultural Association of the town, which has evolved over time through a ‘cycle of change’.  

David Ruiz’s view on leadership reflects four common recommendations when rafting.

1.     Rest in the calm spots

2.     Heading for a rock- lean to the rock rather than away from it

3.     Never stop paddling

4.     If you fall in the water, let go of everything and hold on to your life jacket

Possibly a tad bit confused, one might ask how does rafting have anything to do with leadership? It is found that these recommendations can be connected to important leadership qualities from the Belizean perspective.

When resting in the clam spots it is important to remember there are more rapids ahead. As a leader, it is important to think ahead to the hard times, while still remembering to enjoy the journey. In this time there is opportunity to discover one’s passions, which ultimately drives the raft forward. This is also considered the safe zone that can be returned to, in order to reflect and build further relationships. This will help to prepare oneself for the rapids and rocks ahead.

Heading into a rock may bring upon fear, but leaning into it rather than away, forces leadership traits to be shown.  An important idea Ruiz shared was that it takes another person to recognize one’s leadership traits and abilities in order to act. When taking on a challenge rather than shying away from it, not only does it allow others to notice, but it also builds stronger leadership qualities. These are shown when leaders face problems head on and enable others to act. By strategizing a path of little resistance, leaders are able to look ahead and be ready for change. Ruiz considers the “Reality if Change” a cycle that includes, genesis, growth, stabilization, and breakdown.

Never stop paddling is a sign for not giving up and not allowing a difficult journey to impede progress. Additionally, this addresses the notion of concerted effort, where everyone is working and being engaged. This incorporates the distribution of power and allowing for the contribution of others. Finally, this is also involves the consultation of other’s ideas as well as sacrifice by the leader. Ruiz stated, “a leader has to be ready to work in the trenches,” which gives way to willingness for personal sacrifice. 

By falling in the water and only holding onto one’s life jacket, leaders have to remember that even through failure they have to pick themselves back up. It is important to be aware of their personal mission and have the ability to continue to reflect. This goes back to the beginning idea of resting in the calm spots.  After falling it is important to not become discouraged but to reflect about the actions to better the situation the next time around.