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THE LIGHTER SIDE
Obama’s rules
}Create
Change is what the corporate world needs and
change is what you certainly need to be able to
move on the fast track of your career. Priya Kumar
enlightens with a few lessons to learn from Obama’s
campaign to presidency, which will give you a
refreshing perspective towards success in your own
Priya Kumar
Motivational speaker field of endeavour.
}What’s your tag line: “Change we need” is
what Obama stands for. He capitalised on all
that was not right in America and the world,
and made “change” his purpose. What’s your
purpose? What do you want your presence
to initiate? Are you fi lling just a job position
or are you going to make a difference? The
point is America knew very clearly that when
they get Obama, they can expect change.
So when you enter your offi ce, what is
expected of you? Ponder that.
}Odds don’t count, your contribution
does: Obama was a surprise candidate
to run for President. First afro American to
make it as the Leading Man of the most
powerful nation of the world is proof enough
that the world and people’s
loyalties have tipped in the favour of
progress and contribution than prejudice.
The same is valid for the corporate world. If
your contribution is not real and visible then
you can expect your term to end faster than
the presidents.
}Perceive the problem and be the
message of hope: Obama had the capacity
to inspire and reassure a worried and
divided nation. His triumph was decisive and
sweeping, because he saw what is wrong
with this country, and that won people’s
votes because he “understood”. If you can
develop the capacity to see what’s wrong,
and offer your services as hope and solution,
then the vote of victory is defi nitely headed
for your ballot.
}Give others credit and a share of your
success: Now this is the hardest to do, and I
believe only someone driven by passion and
purpose can have the courage to give credit
of his success to someone else. It does not
make you small, but it sure makes others
big. Obama said in his speech that his
victory belongs to the people,
which is the greatest and
hardest truth ever told. No one
makes it alone. No one. To give
credit where it belongs makes
you so big that your success in
all you is inevitable.
}Empower others towards
greatness: It is only when
you empower people, they will
give you their undying support.
Obama urged the people to
believe in their ability to change
the world more than his. He
believed that when ordinary
people act together they make
a difference. Most of us are
so unconfi dent of our own
contribution that our relationship
with our colleagues is more on
insecurity than empowerment.
Change it.
the urgency: No matter how good
you are, to get what you want you need
to create an urgency to put people into
action. You can’t force people to do anything
whether at work or outside. But like Obama
did, put the hammer down on the date and
reassure that when the choice is made in
your direction, it would be one they would
look back to for strength. But in all humility,
allow others the choice.
}Appreciate your colleagues and
competitors: A good leader lives with a
purpose and not with insecurity. President
or not, everyone is worthy enough to
contribute. To be able to contribute towards
the wellness of your company or even the
world, you necessarily don’t need position
or permission. Obama appreciated his
competitors and sought their assistance
in his mission, making it their mission. To
engage your competitors and unite with
them on the purpose is the mark of a great
president, manager, or even trainee.
}Don’t over promise: Don’t make promises
that you can’t keep. Or rather don’t make
tall claims. People today are smarter, better
informed and more intuitive than they were
in the past. They can see through your
dream selling. Obama clearly mentioned
that in his journey ahead he would need as
much support he can. He even was honest
enough to speak his heart that maybe the
change he promised won’t manifest in one
year or maybe even not in one term, but he
did pledge to his effort to initiate the change
and ride it to the highest peak of progress
that he can.
}You can start small and finish big:
Obama himself says that he was never
the likeliest candidate for this offi ce. He
didn’t start with much money or many
endorsements. His campaign began in
the backyards of Des Moines and the
living rooms of Concord and the front
porches of Charleston. “Today is the time
of possibilities, good possibilities. It is also
the time when we need direction the most
because there are so many ways to reach
the same destination. Like Obama, you too
can campaign for a better life, a
better career if not a better world. And
when we all take responsibility for making
that change towards a better life for
ourselves, we indirectly lend our support
to the world, because now is the time and
“change we need”.
For more information : mail@priya-kumar.com
56 Link May 2010