Leadership in Difficult Times - Lessons learned from President Obama

Leadership in Difficult Times - Lessons learned from President Obama

By Aviva Shiff

There’s no doubt that businesses today are facing difficult times.   Those in leadership positions may be experiencing the additional burden of finding the support or direction needed to keep their teams motivated and productive when confronted with a bleak economic outlook, layoffs of their colleagues and friends, greater competition and slashed budgets.

Where better to look for advice than the newest leader of the largest employer in the United States, the U.S. Government.   Let’s have a look at some excerpts from President Obama’s inaugural address and see how we can apply these lessons to corporate leadership.

“Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many.”

One of the first tenets of leadership is effective and authentic communication.  There is no point in trying to whitewash the challenges your team or company face.  You will be a far more credible leader if you acknowledge what everyone knows to be true.  Articulate clearly, specifically and unemotionally what the challenges are, then move on to the strategies that will be employed to meet them.  Do not dwell on the problems.  Give them the appropriate face time and then transition to the solutions phase.  Your team will be reassured and energized by the opportunity to be actively involved in the solution.

 “…all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.”

According to research conducted by the Gallup Organization, happy employees are better equipped to handle workplace relationships, stress, and change. How do you make your employees happy?  Believe it or not, it can be done without pay increases.  The book, “First, Break All The Rules” by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman suggests that effective managers can contribute the biggest impact to employee happiness by communicating clear job expectations, creating opportunities for employees to develop and utilize their strengths, providing appropriate recognition and demonstrating genuine care for the employee as a person.

“…greatness is never a given. It must be earned.”

Successful leaders must earn their employees respect every day just as all employees must earn their clients trust every day.  There is never a time for a sense of entitlement or basking in past accomplishments.  Encourage your employees to make every day count towards reaching personal and corporate goals.  One way you can lead by example is to go public with your own goals.  This may be uncomfortable, however it will provide that extra boost of inspiration for you and demonstrate to your employees that everyone in the organization has to work towards their measure of greatness.

“…it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labour, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.”

Take the time to acknowledge and appreciate every effort from all employees regardless of their position in the organizational chart.  Recognize and promote the importance of both individual and team effort and make sure that every employee fully understands how different departments and functions contribute to the finished product – satisfied clients.

“For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness.”

One of the strengths of a patchwork workforce is the diverse knowledge base and experience they bring to benefit your company’s understanding customers who are also of a patchwork heritage.  In addition, research has indicated that diverse groups outperform homogenous groups particularly with regards to problem solving and decision-making.  If the demographics of your organization at all levels does not represent the demographics of the general population, find out why and make the changes necessary to see that it does.  Go beyond what is legally or even morally imperative to realize diversity as a sound business strategy.

“…there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.”

Leadership has been defined as the ability to influence others to accomplish an objective and direct the organization in a way that makes it stronger. This is no easy task, particularly in difficult times.  Your opportunity to inspire the success of your employees and your organization in a meaningful way is a tremendous responsibility that has the capacity to provide immense satisfaction to your spirit AND define you as a true leader.

The election of President Obama has sparked a sense of optimism that a change of attitude is indeed possible and there is promise that the payload of difficult times is a stronger, more cohesive future.  Let this lift your spirit on a corporate level as well as on a personal level.