I am arranging my day around watching President-elect Obama's inauguration. But as I think about the two wars and economic collapse that his weepy, self-pitying predecessor leaves in Obama's lap, I am wondering whether Obama can fix what ails us. The way he makes decisions suggests that he'll get good ideas and pick the best. But it will be a while before we know whether those ideas work.
Obama surrounds himself with the best people, starts meetings with questions he wants answered, and expects those people to argue for different answers to the questions. He probes each person to understand the logic and data behind their thinking. At the end, he sums up what he's learned and what decision he is leaning towards. So far he's staffed a diverse team; let one of his nominees, Bill Richardson, go; lobbied Congress to release the second $350 billion in financial bailout money; and started negotiating an $825 billion spending and tax break package.
His leadership style is similar to that of Boeing (NYSE: BA) CEO Jim McNerney. McNerney can take a team of people from different business functions and say, "Here are 10 possible strategies. We're not leaving this room until we all agree on which one we're going to follow." Then he gives people the authority to exercise their intellectual freedom. He encourages them to speak their minds. He demands debate. He lets them express their opinions without fear of retaliation. When the team implements the strategy, it does so with enthusiasm because it feels ownership.
I believe that this is the right approach to making decisions and getting buy-in from people who execute those decisions. And I hope it works as well for Obama as it does for McNerney.Peter Cohan is President of Peter S. Cohan & Associates. He also teaches management at Babson College. Portfolio recently published his eighth book, You Can't Order Change: Lessons From Jim McNerney's Turnaround at Boeing. He has no financial interest in Boeing securities.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-20-2009 @ 12:03PM
Iridium said...
Go ahead have your Obamagasm. If you mean that he surrounds himself with rich self serving democrats, then you are right.
The biggest con the liberals ever pulled was that the rich and powerful Wall Street execs that put us in this mess were Republicans.
Look at Obama's donor list and you will see some of the biggest crooks in American history giving him money. They want favors and economic decisions that will benefit them, not the average person.
The bailout was a windfall payment to economic liberalism and corporate socialism. The idea of leveraging 1000:1 is a liberal economic tool, not a conservative one. An economic conservative would believe that leveraging 10:1 is still over value.
Economic liberalism is what got us into this mess and the cheif architects are prominent democrats. The liberal philosophy is victory by any means and wealth through any means. Its only cheating if you get caught. Cheating to make billions or win an election is just being savvy, playing a better hand than your competition.
Liberalism in all forms and mass diversification leads to the destruction of society. Go all the way back through history and see what destroyed every great empire. You will find liberal ideals at the core of the destruction.
1-20-2009 @ 12:27PM
phatkrome said...
Here's my challenge to you, Peter: Let's see you if can include some type of Bush-hater comments in EVERY post during 2009. It might be tough with him out of office, but I know you can do it!
It really shows your (lack of) expertise in the subject when you choose to lay the financial meltdown solely on this Presidency.
1-20-2009 @ 12:54PM
BHarrison said...
Iridium said...
"The biggest con the liberals ever pulled was that the rich and powerful Wall Street execs that put us in this mess were Republicans."
==================
And on the other hand it was Democrats such as Barney Frank, Ms Pelosi, Mr. Reid, Mr. Dodd, etc. who VEHENTLY FOUGHT AGAINST and VOTED AGAINST implementing effective regualtions that would have curtailed and/or TOTALLY AVERTED this economic debalce.
Personally, I don't see a dime worth of difference between the Republicans and the Democrats in all of this . . . . they ALL "sold out" to the special interests groups. The PRIMARY CULPRIT in all of this was the VAST MAJORITY of Congressmen who either "sold out" or simply did not have the political integrity, courage, or competence to do what needed to be done. A full 90% of Congress should be thrown out of office for their direct and tacit support of the CORRUPT CEOs and special interests.
This is NOT a "party versus party" issue; it is an issue of the lack of ethics and moral courage to do what is in the best interests of the nation. Our Congress has severely failed us for the last eight years and for decades prior to that (going back to prior the banking Silverado scandal, Enron, etc.). Congress was too complicit in all of those scandals and they have done little other than participate in coverups for the criminals.
"People have the government that they deserve . . . "; if the people tolerate corrupt and incompetent government and political parties, then that is what they deserve. The American people are responsible for the politicians that they elect to office.
1-20-2009 @ 2:06PM
Frank ODonnell said...
Peter-
It's so simple, a payroll tax mortitorium for
12 months and support for Reagan's capital gains
and estate tax CUTS which is already law and the USA will take off with investment and new jobs ! !
Jobs which will last and make America work
IN THE SHORT AND LONG TERM. Obama's Plan
means short term jobs only.
1-20-2009 @ 3:05PM
Kent said...
When BO occupies the presidency today, not much change other than executive style will occur with respect to national policy. That's the way it should be ; presidents are ballasts and less ideologically inclined as their colleagues in the Legislature are. BO may lose some of his support from his traditional base as time goes on, but overall I foresee a more centrist style of leadership taking hold.