On Tuesday 20th January 2009, Barrack Obama was inaugurated as USA's 44th President. There was much euphoria on unprecedented levels. His campaign was quite intense. The campaign team to ensure that what was considered an outsider won the elections. And win he did by a landslide margin. What lessons can be learnt from Obama's ascendancy to the American presidency?
1. Doing things differently matters. Obama used social networking sites like Facebook to appeal to an online community and a younger generation. Did it pay off? Yes it did. We must be willing to try unchartered waters in the way we do things in our work places and businesses. How many are really using the Internet for competitive and strategic advantage? Using the Internet in business you can reach the whole world at the click of a button at a far lesser cost than the print media or TV.
2. Good presentation skills matters. One that seeks to serve in public office must have an acceptable level of presentation skills. They must clearly communicate their ideas and vision to others. They must not waffle and only make sense to themselves. I know some people are good orators but what they are saying is empty. I think Obama is not in that category. If you are a public speaker learn the tools of the trade from more experienced people, books and the Internet.
Obama taking oath of office
3. Being persuaded of your calling matters. It seems Obama was really convinced that politics was his calling. Despite the odds he had he forged ahead. I remember listening to a programme on BBC where a University don at Harvard University tried to persuade Obama to consider a career in the academic world. Obama refused and said he wanted to go into politics instead. The don shook his head and said "What a waste!". I'm sure the don is now saying "The young man knew what he wanted after all!" Do we know our life's calling? Or we are on train where we keep getting off at each station of career only to move to the next one because we are lost?
4. Working with the right team matters. Obama seems to have carefully selected his camapaign team who worked day and night to ensure that he won the Democratic Party presidency and later the national Presidency. We need to ensure that we work with the right people. One can have a team but the wrong team. One would want to assume that the team Obama has chosen to be leaders in his government is the right team. If not, they will undo what he tries to do.
5. Being persistent matters. Obama was persistent in his quest for political leadership. He faced the challenge of standing against a former President's wife in his own party but persistence won! He stood against an incumbent party but still won! I know some would say people were tired of Bush and his Republican party and that time for change had come. Maybe so. But Obama's persistence cannot be ignored. Let's learn to be persistent in our businesses and work places. We may have formidable opposition. Think of you operating a grocery store in your neighbourhood. How many have such? Maybe hundreds. Persistence will make the difference and your attitude too!
1. Doing things differently matters. Obama used social networking sites like Facebook to appeal to an online community and a younger generation. Did it pay off? Yes it did. We must be willing to try unchartered waters in the way we do things in our work places and businesses. How many are really using the Internet for competitive and strategic advantage? Using the Internet in business you can reach the whole world at the click of a button at a far lesser cost than the print media or TV.
2. Good presentation skills matters. One that seeks to serve in public office must have an acceptable level of presentation skills. They must clearly communicate their ideas and vision to others. They must not waffle and only make sense to themselves. I know some people are good orators but what they are saying is empty. I think Obama is not in that category. If you are a public speaker learn the tools of the trade from more experienced people, books and the Internet.
Obama taking oath of office4. Working with the right team matters. Obama seems to have carefully selected his camapaign team who worked day and night to ensure that he won the Democratic Party presidency and later the national Presidency. We need to ensure that we work with the right people. One can have a team but the wrong team. One would want to assume that the team Obama has chosen to be leaders in his government is the right team. If not, they will undo what he tries to do.
5. Being persistent matters. Obama was persistent in his quest for political leadership. He faced the challenge of standing against a former President's wife in his own party but persistence won! He stood against an incumbent party but still won! I know some would say people were tired of Bush and his Republican party and that time for change had come. Maybe so. But Obama's persistence cannot be ignored. Let's learn to be persistent in our businesses and work places. We may have formidable opposition. Think of you operating a grocery store in your neighbourhood. How many have such? Maybe hundreds. Persistence will make the difference and your attitude too!
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