Comments on: Crisis or Opportunity? – Lead like Barack Obama http://www.bluepointleadership.com/blog/archived-posts/crisis-or-opportunity-%e2%80%93-lead-like-barack-obama/ Bluepoint Blog Fri, 10 Sep 2010 07:54:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: wj http://www.bluepointleadership.com/blog/archived-posts/crisis-or-opportunity-%e2%80%93-lead-like-barack-obama/#comment-30 wj Sun, 23 Nov 2008 20:35:55 +0000 http://www.bluepointleadership.com/blog/?p=40#comment-30 Lead like Mr. Obama - I suggest not. If you mean actually BE and embody the qualities listed, absolutely. If however you mean use shallow rhetoric and platitudes, do little if anything other than avoid addressing real issues with action, smile as you spin the truth to suit the current constituency, make improbably and impossible promises, etc. - then I say absolutely do not behave like Mr. Obama. I have great frustration and a measure of fear that business leaders and managers too frequently fall under the spell of "just say what they want to hear" rather than actually addressing real problems with pragmatic solutions in a manner characterized by truth and accountability. Mr. Obama is a smooth and deliberate speaker. As such, he is a blank slate upon which fools can paint their portraits of hope in watercolor. In fact, he functions as a current opiate of the masses. He is neither a genuine leader nor a leader of substance by my standards. Therefore to your specific headlined suggestion – absolutely do not lead like Mr. Obama. Instead, lead with genuine substance. WJ Atlanta Lead like Mr. Obama - I suggest not.

If you mean actually BE and embody the qualities listed, absolutely.

If however you mean use shallow rhetoric and platitudes, do little if anything other than avoid addressing real issues with action, smile as you spin the truth to suit the current constituency, make improbably and impossible promises, etc. - then I say absolutely do not behave like Mr. Obama.

I have great frustration and a measure of fear that business leaders and managers too frequently fall under the spell of “just say what they want to hear” rather than actually addressing real problems with pragmatic solutions in a manner characterized by truth and accountability.

Mr. Obama is a smooth and deliberate speaker. As such, he is a blank slate upon which fools can paint their portraits of hope in watercolor. In fact, he functions as a current opiate of the masses. He is neither a genuine leader nor a leader of substance by my standards.

Therefore to your specific headlined suggestion – absolutely do not lead like Mr. Obama. Instead, lead with genuine substance.

WJ
Atlanta

]]> By: JP http://www.bluepointleadership.com/blog/archived-posts/crisis-or-opportunity-%e2%80%93-lead-like-barack-obama/#comment-27 JP Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:57:17 +0000 http://www.bluepointleadership.com/blog/?p=40#comment-27 "Lead like Barack?" Please. Maybe you can change the name of the blog to BlueSTATE. “Lead like Barack?”

Please.

Maybe you can change the name of the blog to BlueSTATE.

]]> By: Lore Strand http://www.bluepointleadership.com/blog/archived-posts/crisis-or-opportunity-%e2%80%93-lead-like-barack-obama/#comment-25 Lore Strand Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:25:56 +0000 http://www.bluepointleadership.com/blog/?p=40#comment-25 As a recent laid off middle manager of a healthcare org. I tend to believe that the greedy capitalistic business response to this crisis is alive and well. As a graduate of one of the Bluepoint seminars, I recognize from my recent experience that here is no room for sentiment,inspiration or team building in corporate or non-profit America. While we middle managers and supervisors led and inspired our staff through this difficult time, it was we the leaders who ultimately paid the price of downsizing when the money ran out. After our learning expereince with Bluepoint, none of the graduates in our Bluepoint group have a position at this time. After fabulous retention rates and measurable inspiration (Gallup poll) we became a threat to our Executive managers' positions. I do hope that in the next 4 years, we will see courage in our professional behaviors not the retreat we are now experiencing. With such an honest, caring and visionary man as our president elect, maybe we will all learn by example. As a recent laid off middle manager of a healthcare org. I tend to believe that the greedy capitalistic business response to this crisis is alive and well.
As a graduate of one of the Bluepoint seminars, I recognize from my recent experience that here is no room for sentiment,inspiration or team building in corporate or non-profit America. While we middle managers and supervisors led and inspired our staff through this difficult time, it was we the leaders who ultimately paid the price of downsizing when the money ran out. After our learning expereince with Bluepoint, none of the graduates in our Bluepoint group have a position at this time. After fabulous retention rates and measurable inspiration (Gallup poll) we became a threat to our Executive managers’ positions.

I do hope that in the next 4 years, we will see courage in our professional behaviors not the retreat we are now experiencing. With such an honest, caring and visionary man as our president elect, maybe we will all learn by example.

]]> By: Pam Rechel http://www.bluepointleadership.com/blog/archived-posts/crisis-or-opportunity-%e2%80%93-lead-like-barack-obama/#comment-24 Pam Rechel Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:44:16 +0000 http://www.bluepointleadership.com/blog/?p=40#comment-24 Bryn, I think this is a super article! I'll be able to forward it to potential clients. I think it's perfect for the current opportunity. Nice work! Best regards, Pam Rechel Bryn,
I think this is a super article! I’ll be able to forward it to potential clients. I think it’s perfect for the current opportunity.

Nice work! Best regards, Pam Rechel

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