Sheila Tanseco practices the art of letting go

As training officer for Allied Bank, 34-year-old Sheila designs and conducts her own behavioral programs for the 1,000 officers of the bank. Sheila’s focus is on improving the attitude of the bank’s officers through her lectures and workshops. Knowing what she wants, feeling more comfortable about herself, and being sure of where she wants to go are some of the benefits that she feels she got from the Basic Success Leadership Seminar she attended.

Our 5’6" bachelorette’s style of teaching is to limit her lectures to 15 minutes before incorporating exercises like role-playing. Activities, which involve participants interacting and applying what they have learned, are vital to the success of her courses.

"To be detached and to learn how to move on from bad experiences is to move forward," Tanseco often says.

Which famous quotation would you have wanted to be the author of?

"Feelings of inferiority and superiority come from the same source: fear."

What film influenced your life?

A Beautiful Mind reminds me of my personal experiences with manic-depressive people and it helps me to know how to deal with them. I also admired the determination of John Nash to get over his illness. The movie is an inspiration for me because it showcases the triumph of the human spirit.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

When you cannot accept who you really are.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

I am such a pleaser that I tend to forget that I have needs, too.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Opportunists who take advantage of and use other people’s weaknesses.

What is the trait you most like in yourself?

I am flexible and can easily adapt to people and situations.

What is your passion?

Helping other people through any painful experience they had. It is such a joy to see people let go of their pain and realize that what was holding them back was themselves.

How do you resolve your conflicts?

By giving honest feedback. That always works for me.

What sports/hobbies do you like most?

Recently I developed a passion for badminton and play at a court near my house in Quezon City.

What book influenced your life?

Conversations with God books 1, 2 and 3. It was through these books that I got an interesting perspective about life.

What is your greatest fear?

Not showing enough love to the people that I love.

What is your motto?

Wherever you go, go with all your heart.

What is your greatest extravagance?

Colognes and lotions. And because it is summer now I use Essences from Rustan’s Snappy. For evening lotions, I like the Body Butter from Body Shop.

What words or phrases do you overuse?

"Let it go and move on." I say this very often and people say, "OK. OK. But I am not ready yet."

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

That I have made peace with everyone including myself.

What does your dad often say to you?

Your life is your own ball game.

Which talent would you most like to have?

To be a good writer like Hillary Clinton. I read her Living History and was amazed by her candor and the way in which she puts together all the facts.

What is your favorite occupation?

I love it when I am in front of a class, with anywhere from 20 to 40 people. That is when I realize why I am still doing this job.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

His ability to stand his ground and be firm with his principles.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Resiliency. I have always admired women who, though they have been through much, are still strong and still fighting.

Name an embarrassing moment at work?

I was finishing a report to meet my deadline and the manager was egging me to present it right away. Being the pleaser that I am, I agreed. I then started to tell my secretary about how annoyed I was only to find out that the manager was standing right behind me.

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E-mail babycamp2@yahoo.co.uk.