the working room

Barack Obama: 10 Rules of Leadership
Friday, March 7, 2008

I've been following the campaign for presidential nominee of the Democrat party. I think Barack Obama is a good example and role model for people who want to achieve groundbreaking, or substantial goals in life. It is fascinating to watch and learn from his experiences.

These are my takeaways regarding his background and political campaign(s):

Accept who you are. He's written autobiographies embracing all aspects of his background: good and bad behavior. He comes across as secure and not conflicted about his identity.
Make the best of your educational opportunities. He didn't shrug away from learning, he realized that education is the key to moving ahead in this country.
Networking is the key to getting what you want. He not only is good at reaching out, he knows that he has to talk to everyone. He's learned from his community organizing days to get a hold of key players (power brokers) and work with them.
Be very optimistic, polite and "open." Although politics in this country is about power at all costs, it doesn't mean one has to sink into mud to achieve power. The nice guy approach works, it hides your own ruthless streak.
Surround yourself with really smart and motivated people. The ability to get things done is not a "man as an island" concept. A good leader surrounds himself with people who know their strengths and are capable and ready to act on them.
Use the latest technology and media to reach a vast amount of people. Even if you, personally, are not on top of technology, find people who can expand your reach.
Keep your message consistent. This is the key to sticking with what works and keeping your message "on point." People judge you by an initial impression. The impression has to be reinforced by a simple message. Who remembers ten point plans? People respond to leaders based on emotion.
Stick with a plan, but be flexible. Keeping the goal in mind, tweaking the game plan is important.
Wage war like the military. Shock and awe may be an interesting phrase, but the first goal is to cripple all communication abilities of the "enemy." This means defining yourself before someone else can, and whatever message they have use it to limit them. You expand on your strengths and define them by their weaknesses.
Do not hesitate to ask for help, or for what you want. This is something that eludes a lot of people. Ask for what you want, because there are only two possible answers: yes or no. Oftentimes, more people respond with the affirmative. It doesn't hurt to ask and ask often.