Natural and accessible, Barack Obama’s communication style is considered “exemplary”. Leadership consultant John Baldoni offers the following advice on how to mimic the new president’s main tactics to develop your own statesmanlike style:
- Challenge Obama did it with his “Yes We Can” slogan and campaign, a call to action that also told Americans that if they wanted change they would have to pitch in and work for it. He’d lead, but they’d need to support him. Obama’s challenge will be put to the test when he starts making unpopular decisions that alienate some supporters– a situation any leader will understand. Baldoni’s advice: “challenge them as he challenged the status quo”.
- Question As a law professor, Obama “loves to wrestle with ideas” and is not afraid to open up the floor to opposing views. Business leaders can bridge ideology in the same way, bringing different divisions or interests into line behind a single initiative. His listening skills are a major asset — true for any leader.
- Cheerlead The retracing of the train journey Abraham Lincoln took from Philadelphia to Washington DC is a way of getting audiences excited about Obama’s administration and its challenges. “Obama wants to use this sense of hope as political leverage for the tough choices he and his team must make”.
- Be real Obama is open about his interests beyond politics and his love for his family. If his image is not quite that of an ‘ordinary’ man, it’s of one who shares the same concerns as the rest of us. But leaders cannot fake authenticity — it’s just a matter of being genuine.
- Decide He may listen to contrary views, but he has also shown that he knows what he wants and is willing to fight for it — he personally lobbied senators to release the second half of the US financial industry bailout so he’d start office with the resources to take action to stabilise the economy.
- Inspire Obama’s pre-inaugural address appealed “not to our easy instincts but our better angels” and he’s called on American history to demonstrate how the country’s overcome past obstacles through discipline and hard work. In business, high expectations married to realistic and clear guidelines on getting there can be inspirational.
- Assure Baldoni notes that Obama inspires confidence because he appears so composed, even in crisis. This might be a tricky one for business leaders facing the daily onslaught of bad news (if not in their companies or sectors, then in the wider economy). (As a Generation X’er, pragmatism, transparency and accountability will be words Obama understands. The key is to take action — all the soothing words in the world won’t solve your business problems — or president Obama’s.
