Leadership the Barack Obama Way: Lessons on Teambuilding and Creating a Winning Culture in Challenging Times

304 Pages·2009·2.55 MB·English

by  Shelly Leanne

LEADERSHIP THE
BARACK OBAMA
WAY
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Shel Leanne is President of Regent Crest, a leadership
development firm whose clients hail from Fortune 100
companies located across the world. Dr. Leanne gives talks
and conducts workshops focusing on leadership best practices
at companies, conferences, and nonprofit organizations. Prior
to launching her company, Dr. Leanne worked for McKinsey
& Company and for Morgan Stanley in New York and
London. She then served as a full faculty member at Harvard
University from 1997-2001. Educated at Harvard (B.A.) and
Oxford (master’s and doctoral degrees), Dr. Leanne’s work
has been cited or published in Newsweek, The Wall Street
Journal, and Businessweek.com. She is the author of Say It
Like Obama and Win!, and How to Interview Like a Top MBA.
Dr. Leanne can be contacted at www.drshelworkshop.com.
LEADERSHIP THE
BARACK OBAMA
WAY
LESSONS ON TEAMBUILDING AND
CREATING A WINNING CULTURE IN
CHALLENGING TIMES
SHELLY LEANNE
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ISBN: 978-0-07-166809-5
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C O N T E N T S
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
xi
INTRODUCTION
xv
PART I
LAY A FOUNDATION FOR OUTSTANDING
LEADERSHIP
CHAPTER 1
FIRST, WINTRUST AND CONFIDENCE
3
Recognize the Power of Early Impressions 5
Create a Strong First Impression Through
Image and Body Language 9
Gather the Right Props Around You 12
Form Outstanding Second Impressions
Through Voice and Intonation 14
Benefit from Third Impressions: Strong Starts,
Ethics, and Preparedness 18
v
vi CONTENTS
CHAPTER 2
COMMUNICATE YOUR VISION EFFECTIVELY
29
Steer Attention to Common Ground 31
Recognize Others Must “See” to Believe:
Words That Resonate 45
Help People “See”: Use Words That Paint a Picture 54
Acknowledge the Terrain 58
Demonstrate Your Logic 60
Elicit a Nod: Skillful Persuasion 63
PART II
FORM A WINNINGTEAM
CHAPTER 3
LEVERAGE A STRONG REPUTATION
71
Understand the Importance of Teflon 73
Convey Strong Ethics 74
Be a Straight Shooter 76
Offer an Open Ear, Wield a Fair Hand 78
BeTrue to Your Word, Build a Consistent Record 80
Give Loyalty Its Due Place 82
Remain Humble 83
Stay Above the Fray 84
Display Strength 86
Demonstrate Superior Preparedness 87
Remain Cool Under Fire 88
CONTENTS vii
CHAPTER 4
MAKE FRIENDS IN UNUSUAL PLACES
93
Employ a Power Analysis: The Pragmatic Side of Friends 97
Go Where Friends Are 99
Never Limit Yourself to Expected Allies 101
Employ a Win-Win, “Both–And” Mindset 104
Meet on Common Ground 105
Speak in Understandable Ways 111
Keep an Eye to the Future 112
Show Respect for Your Potential Friends 112
Recognize a Picture Says a Thousand Words 115
Leverage Friends, Expand Your Network 117
Hold No Grudges 118
CHAPTER 5
BUILD AND LEAD A WINNINGTEAM
123
Pay Attention to Style and Team Culture 125
Identify Key Priorities 129
Determine the Ideal Skills Mix 130
Staff for Excellence: Target the Best, Value Experience 131
Promote Smoother Sailing with Culture and Values 133
When All Else Is Equal, Send a Message 135
Benefit from Mighty Brainstorming (cid:1)
(Innovation and Your “Team of Rivals”) 137
Empower the Leads, Make Roles
and Responsibilities Clear 138
viii CONTENTS
CHAPTER 6
MOVE BEYOND “HIGH PERFORMANCE”
TO “ALL HANDS”
141
Understand Key Elements of an All-Hands Culture 143
Promote Culture Through Customs and Practices,
Big and Small 146
Provide Affirmation 147
Match Skills and Interests, Make Differences a Strength 148
Reward Excellence 150
Train Well 151
Keep the “Community Thing” Going 155
Usher Abrasives Out 156
Manage Expectations 158
Rally the Troops 161
CHAPTER 7
USE DIVERSITY AS A SOURCE OF STRENGTH
163
Recognize the Array of Diversity 166
Embrace Diversity’s Benefits—Expanded Networks
andInnovation 167
Capitalize Where Values, Talents,
and Diversity Coincide 169
Draw Talent from Fruitful Sources 171
Invest in the Future: Remember Those Lower Echelons 173
Build Bridges on Common Ground 175
CONTENTS ix
PART III
ENABLE THETEAM, SOLIDIFY
A WINNING CULTURE
CHAPTER 8
MAKETECHNOLOGY YOUR FRIEND
179
What’s in a Blackberry? Recognizing Technology’s
Game-Changing Potential 181
Choose Partners Excellently (cid:1)(cid:1)185
IdentifyTargetGroup Habits 187
Capitalize on Habits: Channels and Tools 189
Employ Two-Way Technology 190
Build Relationships:Technology and
“Customer Relations Management” 191
Keep an Eye on the End Goal: Online-to-Offline 193
Make Masterful Use of Specifics 196
EnhanceInternal Capabilities: Morale, Culture,
and Management Processes 197
Leverage Lessons in Future Work 199
CHAPTER 9
MOTIVATE YOURTARGET GROUPS,
ORGANIZE TO SUCCEED
203
Recognize the Potential of the Next Generation
and Other TargetGroups 207
Avoid the Twin Follies of Neglect 210
Empower Highly Appealing Leaders,
Place Leaders Well 212