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Obama on Leadership

Written by: Paul Bridle

Article Overview: After eight years of the Bush Administration and the last year of electioneering, the whole world watched in January, as the first African-American took the oath of office and became the 44th President of United States of America.

Obama on Leadership

His inaugural speech lacked the RA-RA of his previous speeches. Rather it focused on setting out his approach to doing business. Time will tell how much of what he says he can live up to, or should I say, what the establishment will let him do.

The speech struck me on a number of valuable points. After making the point that the previous administration’s actions were questionable and certainly not how he intends to do business, he made a great point that we would all do good to remember at the moment:

“We are no less productive, our minds not less inventive, our services no less needed, our capacity remains undiminished.”



The details I think worth noting are the points that he makes relating to ‘Leadership’. Referring to United States of America, he said, “…. we are ready to lead once more”.



I took a few quotes that are worth considering about leading. These are all worthwhile aspects of leadership that we would all do well to remind ourselves from time-to-time.

First he made the comment; “Our power alone can’t protect us nor does it entitle us to do with as we please. Our power grows through prudent use”.

Leaders sometimes allow the power to go to their head. Some abuse their power. It is a wise person that recognizes that with power comes responsibility and that how it is used defines how it will either grow or diminish.

To the adversaries he said, “We will work with you with mutual interest and mutual respect.”

To his enemies he said, “…your people will judge you on what you can build, and not what you can destroy”. Then he added a challenge; “We will extend a hand if you are prepared to unclench your fist.”



Leaders do well to consider how their people will judge them and what they will judge them on. If we understand what our people want from us, we can then manage those expectations and deal with it accordingly.

It is also good to see how the ownership for the outcome was shared by offering the hand if the other is prepared to “unclench your fist”. Setting out the basis for the future of the relationships in a fair but firm manner, is the sign of a good leader.

The President also spoke about “a new era of responsibility”. Responsibility is certainly the name of the game at the moment. In defining the values, he said; “Honesty & hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism.”



He certainly was clear that it was a time to give and not to just take. This was a central theme and the first two values are probably the most important and said the most about him.

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