Showing posts with label leadership. Show all posts
Showing posts with label leadership. Show all posts
2/2/12
12/7/11
Inspired by Teddy Roosevelt, Obama makes a compelling case for a middle class country. Bravo!
“This country succeeds when everyone gets a fair shot, when everyone does their fair share and when everyone plays by the same rules," - President Obama
Read about it here.
12/6/11
11/28/11
11/22/11
Distortion & reality: Obama
"Did you get the impression from the GOP debates that Obama had lowered taxes? That he had not nationalized but saved the banks? That he had dispatched Osama and Qaddafi? That he had 60 percent support for a sane and succcessful foreign policy? That he was an exemplar of all those social values conservatives say they support: a model husband and father, a black man who has eschewed identity politics almost entirely, a president whose speeches are among the most intellectually Christian of any in modern times? This strange, bizarre hostility to him I put down to displaced anger at Bush, to cultural panic among the old..."
--Andrew Sullivan
11/17/11
Mitt Romney on Libya? Ever-shifting like its desert sands
From ABC News:
Position 1: Obama was weak in not doing this sooner
Position 2: On April 2, Romney traveled to Las Vegas to speak to the Republican Jewish Coalition, where he attacked the president’s foreign policy in the Middle East.
Position 3: Obama is being too aggressive
Position 4: After Gadhafi fell: Hooray! Now release the Lockerbie bomber"
Imagine him on the protection of LGBT rights?
7/15/11
Leadership trifecta: A president, governor & mayor that (mostly) support my rights as a gay American citizen
While I don't consider them to be perfect on all LGBT issues, I am pretty happy with President Obama, California Governor Jerry Brown, and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee. What a difference principled leadership at the top makes!
And, we need Obama to evolve more quickly on the marriage equality issue.
5/5/11
The death of trust
Poor Obama...some people don't trust our government leaders to tell the truth even in the most straightforward matters, i.e. our military kills Osama.
Many Americans will always be skeptical, paranoid, or even conspiracists. That's the way their brains are wired, bless their hearts.
But others are fatigued and un-trusting from decades of our presidents telling them big lies:
*LBJ: that the Vietnam war is worth fighting, winnable, and important to our survival; it wasn't!
*Nixon: that he was not a thief, liar, and paranoid freak who violated the Constitution many times; he was!
*Reagan: that he didn't know anything about the details of Contra-gate; clearly, he did.
*Clinton: that didn't sleep 'that wowan;' clearly, he had.
*George W: that Iraq was involved in 9/11 and a huge stockpile of WMDs; not even close.
Yep, trust is something difficult to re-create once it is squandered. Now, it must be earned again. All politicians shade the truth. But overcoming these years of big presidential lies is a big challenge for Obama.
4/23/11
RIP: Dr. Alfred Freedman, who led the drive to declare homosexuality was not a mental disorder in 1973
From Towleroad.com: Dr. Alfred Freedman, who was president of the American Psychiatric Association when it declared that homosexuality was not a mental disorder in 1973, has died at the age of 94. The ruling subsequently led to the removal of homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
8/4/10
5/19/10
Qualities that made Lincoln a great leader & person
10 Qualities that Made Abraham Lincoln a Great LeaderBy Catherine L. Moreton, J.D.
President Abraham Lincoln appointed the best and brightest to his Cabinet, individuals who were also some of his greatest political rivals. He demonstrated his leadership by pulling this group together into a unique team that represented the greatest minds of his time, according to historian Doris Kearns Goodwin.
Lincoln demonstrated an ability to withstand adversity and to move forward in the face of frustration, said Kearns Goodwin, a keynote speaker at SHRM's 2008 Annual Conference in Chicago. She identified 10 qualities that made Lincoln a great leader. Ten qualities Kearns Goodwin believes we should look for in our present day leaders.
Capacity to Listen to Different Points of View
While researching her Pulitzer Prize winning book, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln , Kearns Goodwin learned that Lincoln had the capacity to listen to different points of view. He created a climate where Cabinet members were free to disagree without fear of retaliation. At the same time, he knew when to stop the discussion and after listening to the various opinions, make a final decision.
Ability to Learn on the Job
Lincoln was able to acknowledge errors, learn from them, and then move. In this way, he established a culture of learning in his administration, said Kearns Goodwin.
Ready Willingness to Share Credit for Success
In response to concerns expressed by friends about the actions of some of his Cabinet members, Lincoln stated that the "path to success and ambition is broad enough for two" said Kearns Goodwin. When there was success, Lincoln shared the credit with all of those involved.
Ready Willingness to Share Blame for Failure
When mistakes were made by members of his Cabinet, Lincoln stood up for them said Kearns Goodwin. When contracts related to the war effort raised serious questions about a member of his administration, Lincoln spoke up and indicated that he and his entire Cabinet were to blame.
Awareness of Own Weaknesses
Kearns Goodwin noted that one of the weaknesses acknowledged by Lincoln was his tendency to give people too many chances and because he was aware, he was able to compensate for that weakness. As an example, she stated that George McClellan, Commander in Chief of the Union Army, refused to follow directives about the war effort. Lincoln eventually set a deadline and eventually removed McClellan from the position.
Ability to Control Emotions
According to Kearns Goodwin, Lincoln treated those he worked with well. However, he did get angry and frustrated, so he found a way to channel those emotions. He was known to sit down and write what he referred to as a "hot letter" to the individual he was angry with and then he would set the letter aside and not send it. If he did lose his temper, Lincoln would follow up with a kind gesture or letter to let the individual know he was not holding a grudge, said Kearns Goodwin. She noted that one of the letters was released as part of Lincoln 's Presidential papers with a notation that it was never signed nor sent.
Know How to Relax and Replenish
Lincoln understood the importance of relaxation and humor to shake of the stress of the day and to replenish himself for the challenges of the next day. According to Kearns Goodwin, Lincoln had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to tell funny stories. He encouraged a healthy atmosphere of laughter and fun in his administration. He also enjoyed going to the theater and spending time with friends.
Go Out into the Field and Manage Directly
During the Civil War, many soldiers died and there were many ups and downs. Lincoln established lasting connections with the troops by visiting the battlefield and hospitals, which also helped bolster morale.
Lincoln also spent time talking with members of the public, taking 'public opinion baths' according to Kearns Goodwin. He held public receptions and made a point of shaking everyone's hand and speaking to each individual.
Strength to Adhere to Fundamental Goals
In the summer of 1964, said Kearns Goodwin, the war was not going well for the North. Members of his political party came to Lincoln and said that there was no way to win the war and he might need to compromise on slavery. Lincoln held firm on the issue of slavery and turned away from this advice.
Ability to Communicate Goals and Vision
Kearns Goodwin stated that Lincoln had a "remarkable ability to communicate his goals to his countrymen." He made concepts simple and communicated with an understanding of the concerns of the citizens.
When the war ended and he won reelection, Lincoln did not focus on his achievements said Kearns Goodwin. Rather, in his second inaugural speech, Lincoln focused on bringing the country together as expressed in the following excerpt. " With malice toward none, with charity for all, ? let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."
Kearns Goodwin ended her keynote address with the following words from Leo Tolstoy about Abraham Lincoln. His greatness consisted of the "integrity of his character and moral fiber of his being."
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