Paul Brindle discusses the effect self belief and confidence can have on leadership – and what lessons HR leaders can learn from Barack Obama.
The unipolar world of Bush was not something that could, or would, last forever. An autocratic stance and unilateral attitude when the Asian star was in the ascendant was perhaps unwise: couple this with unpopular foreign policies which left the supposed ‘leading’ country misunderstood and much resented and the outlook is bleak indeed. What, or indeed who, could help turn this image around? A great leader was required – enter, stage left, Barack Husain Obama.
An outsider, lacking the established connections, he needed to raise money, create influence and engage with the media and the nation at large. As a candidate he was as green as they get in all the areas that traditionally were deemed to have mattered. Yet this man stormed the nation, raised more money than his adversaries in previously unseen methods, galvanized the people and connected with them in ways that had never been done before. Yes, he was a good orator, but after the Bush years that was not hard – what else was there?
The fundamental is self-confidence. This is not blind self-confidence built on a self-belief and a strong will power. Unlike the many people that have confidence but are foolish with it his is:
- A self confidence that makes him willing to listen to others points of view
- The self confidence to change his mind if it is the right thing to do
- The self confidence to make a decision at the right time
- The self confidence to pick the best team for the job and then trust them to do it
- The self confidence to tackle the big issues first.
Through the campaign, the mindset was simple: show the people what we stand for and let them decide. His message was always clear in direction and what he stood for. It is never easy to provide detail but where he could, he did. Where he couldn’t, he was clear about his principles and overall aims so that the public knew that he was trustworthy within his values.
In office he has selected his team and sought to find the best people for the job. He has tackled the difficult issues up front and not been scared to challenge everything. Many have said he has tackled too many things at once – fortunately, he has not listened to this criticism.
Obama wants it right and is equally prepared to listen to ideas wherever they come from. Progress is tracked and he considers the implication of everything. The specifics are evident in so many ways. He shook hands with the policeman on guard at Number 10. A small detail but noted with great impact. The Obama brand is carefully considered and makes a big difference especially in choosing the words he uses when speaking.
Finally, he understands the importance of relationships and the customer experience. Obama has built his image on reaching out to the people. In a recent interview with Newsweek he said; "American people not only have a toleration but also a hunger for explanation and complexity, and a willingness to acknowledge hard problems. I think one of the biggest mistakes that is made in Washington is this notion you have to dumb things down for the public."
To those who think the Obama approach would not work in business, take heed of the parallels with other accomplished business men of our modern times. Business leaders would do well to learn from his leadership.
Paul Bridle is a leadership methodologist, world renowned speaker and managing director of Bridle International.
4 Responses
Obama – Leadership? Achievement?
I was recently reminded about this opinion piece recently, and thought it worth a re-visit.
So, how has Obama done in terms of both leadership and achievement. Earlier, I highlighted the difference between glossy rhetoric and actual achievement. My criticism was rebuffed by the following:-
I could use this space to highlight President Obama’s winning of the Nobel Peace Prize for International Diplomacy, but I won’t [ok, maybe I just did]. I could reference President Obama’s kept promise to sign the order to close Quantanamo Bay within his first term, but I won’t [ok, maybe I just did]. Or, I could quote from President Obama’s pioneering speech in Cairo … etc. etc. (Cairo?? Ooops – I’ll get back to that one later).
So, with hindsight, what has Obama actually achieved? Has he been a great leader? Was the hype that surrounded his election justified? Sadly, not really.
He won a Nobel Peace Prize. Great. For what? Just how much progress has been made in the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, over which the USA holds so much influence.His reaction to Israel’s massacre of more than 1,400 Palestinians during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza? To give Israel an additional $30 billion in American weapons. Any further political progress there towards peace? To adopt the heavily ironical tone used to critique my arguments – "errrr .. no. Sorry.".
He promised to close Quantanamo Bay within his first term (errrr … can you get back to us on that one?)
His recent speech on the Libyan situation – the U.S. military will be scaling back their operations over the no-fly zone and handing the bulk of the duties "to NATO forces". The problem is, the United States as a member of NATO is obliged to act in any NATO operation. Where is America’s standing in world affairs? Does "leadership" mean drop a few bombs and pull out as fast as possible? Is that really "leadership".
Taxes and the middle classes – any progress there? 400 wealthy Americans now have more wealth than the bottom 150 million Americans COMBINED! So, errrr … not really. Sorry again.
Does Obama really deserve to be re-elected again?
It’s time to replay all those schmalzy election ads again, folks. "Yes we can", but not with this President, that’s for sure.
response
I don’t entirely agree with either of your posts. I find the fundamental distinction of Obama (or any other modern politician’s position) from your example of the 1920’s PM was that he wasn’t surrounded by insidious media coverage that reported on his every word or gesture, and provided emotive and reactionary reporting at every turn or decision made. The speed at which information is now distributed has created a global conversation that just never stops, and unfortunately all too often gets hooked on inconsequential stories that have little bearing on the principle direction of running the country. Politics of the 21st century is a whole different ball game to an environment where politicians were ever trusted to proceed in setting up an NHS, without incendiary reporting swaying public opinion and fanning unnecessary and sometimes obstructive fires at every turn. Unfortunately we now live in a society of spin, and of that at least, Obama is so far proving as deft a negotiator as any.
Let’s just hope the ‘schmaltzy’ language and principles he purports to represent do guide him through his term in office and actually result in tangible achievements. I don’t count a Noble prize, I’m still trying to figure out what that was awarded for.
Lessons from President Obama
Hi Marklaw – and thanks for your contribution to the inevitable debate over President Obama’s performance as a leader and the lessons therein [if any]. I always find it interesting how selective the memory operates, especially when presented with a journey in radical change. Suddenly, we appear to forget the impact of past errors and allow perfection to become the enemy of the good. I could use this space to highlight President Obama’s winning of the Nobel Peace Prize for International Diplomacy, but I won’t [ok, maybe I just did]. I could reference President Obama’s kept promise to sign the order to close Quantanamo Bay within his first term, but I won’t [ok, maybe I just did]. Or, I could quote from President Obama’s pioneering speech in Cairo, or detail the positive impact of his [and the First Lady’s] decision to open up of the White House to visits from school children or cite the accolades received during his recent visit to China, but I won’t.
Instead, I’ll use what space remains below to list just some of the challenging decisions that President Obama and his selected ‘team of rivals’ i.e. another lesson in collaborative, confident and conciliatory leadership, has made and continues to lead on ;
1. Designs and introduces an unprecedented $634billion dollar Health Package for a more affordable health care system for every single American citizen.
2. Reduces taxes for 95% of working Americans.
3. Invests in excess of $100billion in clean technology thus creating sustainable ‘green’ jobs which can never be outsourced.
4. Closes multi-billion dollar tax loopholes for the large oil companies ; and
5. Introduces the largest single increase in grants to help families pay for college education.
For sure, many of us now look to a President who can lead on delivering all of the above, to also do the ‘right’ things in response to existing wars and the rumors of war. That expectation is, in itself, a testimony to President Obama’s leadership. My simple plea is that we find a way of understanding the position we inherit, exercising reasonable patience in implementing policies that WILL heal us and supporting that journey in making the world a safer, fairer and healthier place for generations to come. A new political paradigm awaits and a fresh approach is now within reach, but it will take time. "It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get where we are today, but we have just begun. Today we begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the one we inhabit today."President Obama – on his first day in office!
Ok, I can appreciate that some of that may sound like a shmaltzy television campaign set to warm music and soft focus family portraits. The truth is, it remains an audacious hope for many of us who empathise with a journey in change and start that journey from a different place.
Can we learn from President Obama’s leadership lessons…….? I think you know my answer to that question!!!!
StayStrong. R
Obama
Whilst my opposition to Bush remains implaccable, this comment piece really reads like one of those shmaltzy television campaign advertisements that thankfully we have been spared in the UK until now. I almost found myself looking for the warm music and soft focus family portraits. Where’s the puppy?
A long, glowing endorsement, but where’s the evidence for the claims made? I fear the writer has been fooled by the hype. "Yes we can". Yes we can what exactly. Great slogan – but I’m not sure what it means.
Decisive? Not according to events. Obama has sat on the most important foreign policy decisions (escalation of the war in Afghanistan) for months and cannot decide what to do.
Climate change? He’s not even going to Copenhagen. (At least that was a decision. Or rather, the real people that really run the US economy told him not to go).
There has been some progress on healthcare at "policy agreement" level, but where’s the implementation? One fifth of the US population currently has no healthcare cover. Willl they get it? Again, the powerful forces of private capital will scupper any real progress.
Obama is a charismatic actor, but he is not strong enough to act.
Just compare this record to the first year and beyond of the 1945 Labour Govt., where a very uncharismatic, quiet, pipe-smoking (balding, even!) Prime Minister (Clement Atlee) set up a huge house-building programme, introduced the Welfare State and created the National Health Service in the teeth of opposition from all the doctors, dentists and the BMA. And then went home each night on the bus to his East End home.
Let’s move away from the presentation and spin and look at something more tangible. People very quickly loose faith in leaders that do not actually achieve change.