Over the past two years, we have seen what some have called a
transformative demonstration of leadership. This process culminated on
January 20th with the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. Whether or not you agree with his politics (and Prime Business Alert!
is decidedly nonpartisan), you have to respect his journey and
appreciate his leadership capabilities. You can also learn a great deal
about effective leadership and sustained, high-level performance by
studying his improbable and meteoric rise.

From humble beginnings, having to prevail over the dual “handicaps”
of race and fatherlessness, and overcome two of the most formidable
political forces in history (the Clintons and the Republican Party),
President Obama showed us that a person with imagination,
determination, and faith could surmount incalculable odds and rise to
the highest and most powerful office in the world. During his entire
candidacy, he exhibited the leadership qualities that led to this
landmark achievement:

• President Obama saw opportunity where others saw obstacles;
• Saw solutions where others saw problems;
• Had confidence when others had doubt;
• Had resolve when others wavered;
• Was disciplined when others were lax;
• Stayed calm when others panicked;
• Had hope when others lost faith;
• And, ultimately, he saw possibility where others saw none.

President Obama established several essential elements in his
campaign. First, he affirmed his leadership by making clear who was in
charge, what messages would be communicated, and his commitment to
those messages. At the same time, he was open to ideas and willing to
adapt when presented with a compelling reason to do so. Second, he set
the psychology of his campaign, ensuring that it was positive,
proactive, and focused. Third, he actively created a culture of
integrity, openness, and determination that permeated throughout his
campaign organization. These specific messages and the way in which he
conveyed them are powerful lessons for you in your leadership role at
your company.

President Obama also convinced millions of individual Americans that
they too could alter their own personal histories and futures. We saw
the force of this message in interviews with African-Americans who
lived through segregation and the civil-rights movement and in the
voices of hope and possibility from young African-Americans who saw
what was once inconceivable was now a reality and that if he could move
mountains, so could they. And this message reverberated across racial
age, gender, and ethnic lines. President Obama showed us that, in a
world where the status quo had seemingly immovable inertia, change
could happen. And in a world that often times seems to be spinning out
of control, he gave many the courage to embrace the “audacity of hope.”

This message of possibility and personal empowerment from President
Obama moved people and caused an unstoppable groundswell of support
that propelled him to the Presidency. This same message can empower
your employees to achieve their own and your company’s goals and take
their performance, productivity, and profitability to a new level.

President Obama also showed us that disconnected individuals with a
common vision could coalesce into a formidable force. His life and his
words inspired millions of previously uninvolved Americans to enter the
political arena and stand up for what they believed. But, despite what
many people think, inspiration is not his greatest gift.  President
Obama’s real strengths are not only to inspire, but also to inform and
transform. He gave people the information and tools they needed to
focus and direct their inspiration. And then he transformed that
inspiration and information into action. By exploiting both low-tech
(boots on the ground) and high-tech (the Internet) means, he created
what was certainly the most potent political campaign in history.

As a leader, you can unite your corporate team in the same way.
First, create a shared vision of what your team wants to accomplish.
Making this a collaborative effort increases “buy in” and ownership.
Second, give your team the knowledge they need to do their jobs
individually and collectively to the best of their ability. Third,
provide them with the resources to turn their inspiration and
information into action.

President Obama now faces the most daunting test of his leadership
skills as he attempts to forge a sense of unity, where others have
tried and failed, in a political culture that has many political,
economic, and cultural factions. Can he inspire, inform, and transform
those who have fundamental disagreements with him? To do so, he will
have to marshal all of his remarkable leadership skills. In this time
of crisis, his oratory gifts can inspire all Americans to set aside
small concerns and work together to overcome the current challenges at
home and abroad. This ability involves framing divisive issues in terms
that transcend specific ideologies and focus on larger universal
themes. He began this process in his inaugural speech when he declared,
“We gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over
conflict and discord.”

The same kind of divergence of views can handicap a company as well.
The ability to inspire your employees, rally them around a shared
cause, demonstrate respect for all perspectives, and find common ground
is an essential skill for providing leadership to a successful company.

President Obama’s confident, calm, and commanding presence in these
difficult times can inspire trust that he has America’s best interests
at heart despite policy differences. His noted respect for diverse
viewpoints and willingness to listen to others can also encourage “buy
in” from those less inclined to do so. And his thoughtful and
far-reaching responses to issues that impact all Americans can convince
even those who might be resistant to, at a minimum, give him a chance
to prove himself right.

Similarly, a style of corporate leadership that is authoritative,
yet empathic and trustworthy, can reduce the flames of conflict and
encourage those with different ideas to be open to others’ viewpoints
and be willing to find compromise for the good of the individual and
the company.

In the business world, there are profound lessons to be learned from
studying President Obama’s leadership capabilities. By applying his
skills and strategies to your work, you can create your own
transformative leadership experience that can help you and your company
to achieve its goals.

To read more about the psychology of business, click here.