Leadership and the Presidential Candidates

Kevin Eikenberry offers this interesting post called, Which Presidential Candidate is the Best Leader? He has written a lot about leadership and is now applying his model of 12 characteristics to the candidates in a survey you can participate in. It will be interesting to see what Kevin's survey comes up with! Here are the characteristics of remarkable leadership according to Kevin:

• Champions Change   
• Communicates Powerfully   
• Builds Relationships   
• Develops Others   
• Focuses on "Customers"   
• Influences Impactfully   
• Thinks & Acts Innovatively   
• Values Collaboration & Teamwork   
• Solves Problems & Makes Decisions   
• Takes Responsibility & Accountability   
• Manages Projects & Processes   
• Sets Goals & Supports Goal Achievement   

Does your candidate pass the test? You can read more about these in Kevin's book called Remarkable Leadership.

I don't like to talk politics on this blog but I do have just one beef. Actually, I have many beefs, but will share only one. I am very disappointed in how UNPRESIDENTIAL Sarah Palin has seemed in TV interviews and the debate. Sure, she is likable and charming and sometimes funny, but I could not see her sitting across the table from other world leaders and representing us well. She seems more like a spokesmodel than a serious candidate.

What I find most interesting about politics is how people use very different criteria for selecting leaders. I bet that if we were held to the same standards for voting that we have for hiring people, things might be different. As it is, we engage in discriminatory "hiring" (selection by voting) because many of us use non-job related criteria for selection.

That said, if the theory of the wisdom of crowds is correct, we will still tend to get it right most of the time - as a collective.

Comments

[John Agno]

Choosing the best political leader to show us the way out of this tipsy global economy swamp is critical. Here are some quotes about what we should be looking for in such a political leader:

"The difference between liberals and conservatives is that conservatives believe that man is born evil and that society's institutions make him good while liberals believe that man is born good and that society makes him evil." Herman Kahn

"The first quality for a commander-in-chief is a cool head to receive a correct impression of things. He should not allow himself to be confused either by good or bad news." Napoleon Bonaparte

"There is required for the composition of a great commander not only massive common sense and reasoning power, not only imagination, but also an element of legerdemain, an original and sinister touch, which leaves the enemy puzzled as well as beaten." Winston Churchill

"It is not essential...that a prince should have all good qualities....But it is most essential that he should seem to have them." Niccolo Machiavelli

"Great innovations should not be forced on slender majorities." Thomas Jefferson

[Scott]

Leadership has become a bit of an "illusion" in our dog-eat-dog world of corporate America and government special interests. Altruistic actions aren't valued as highly as "looking good" or protecting personal/professional self-interests.

Dropping Almonds, a book scribed by Bach Anon, points to horrific executive leadership and corporate mismanagement. The middle class and blue collar workers have been left at the curb by outsourcing jobs and massive layoffs because of corporate corruption and mismanagement. Like Bach states in the book, we must get back to the basics of the American worker and loyalty from the ground up.

[barbara Beck-Azar]

Contrary to what you stated about Sarah Palin being just a spokesmodel, I see her authentic, honest and real in the political scene. Everything you write in your books speaks connection, sincerity and self-awareness. I suppose in comparison to someone like Nancy Pelossi who shamelessly met with enemies of our country in her bhurka and veil - Palin is refreshingly real, strong and centered. Her experience as Governor is certainly more thorough than simply being Senator. I believe she will to stand in any situation with grace and dignity both domestically and abroad.

Perhaps American is not ready for women in politics who aren't more masculine. It's amazing how critical feminine critics are of her. I for one am quite impressed with her.