President Barack Obama's Leadership Styles
90
The office of the American presidency is a multi-faceted occupation that requires many kinds of leadrship styles. This hub briefly discusses some of the hats worn by the latest president, Mr. Barack Obama.
Transformational-charismatic
New President Barack Obama has gotten the attention of American's and foreigners alike due to his charismatic nature. A charismatic leader has an unncanny ability to draw others to his side and move them to accomplish a cause bigger than themselves. A charismatic approach is transformational if it invokes a permanent change in the people who embrace the leader's vision. Thus far, Prseident Obama has woed many to his vision which has the potential to make a huge difference in both domestic and foreign affairs.
Cross-cultural Leadership
Under the Bush Administration, America's image lost much of its shine. This was mostly due to a unilateral, ethnocentirc foreign policy espoused by Bush and Cheney. While not taking America's safety needs for granted, Obama has formulated a more cross-cultural approach to the world, thinking not only of the US's interests but also the interests of the other nations as well. In the first six months on the job, Obama has traveled abroad more than any other president at this point of his administration and has paid attention to cultural norms in the places where he traveled.
 | Amazon Price: $7.69 List Price: $17.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $3.65 List Price: $7.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $19.01 List Price: $25.95 |
 | Amazon Price: $20.17 List Price: $32.50 |
President Obama's Job Approval Rating
How's the President Doing Overall?
See results without votingContingency Leadership
Not only has Obama been culturally sensitive and transformational, he has been able to respond to various situations using different types of leadership models. When traveling abroad Obama has been conciliatory, humble and apt to listen before speaking. When facing the failing automobile, he does not mince words but stands tough to call for necessary changes like forcing GM and Chrysler to accept new MPG standards and pare down their long-time commitment to NASCAR. Under the heat of the current foreign and economic troubles, Obama has worked hard to accomplish what he promised understanding that each second he waits may mean a lost home or job for another group of citizens. Whether one likes what he has done or not, Obama has not shied away from the challenges that faced him when he accepted the job as president.
President Obama's Agenda
What should President Obama focus on most?
See results without votingPresident Obama's Personaility Profile
Sarah Moore and Angela Rodgers, students at the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn., did a research project on “The Personality Profile of President Barack Obama: Leadership Implications” and presented the results at the 6th annual Minnesota Private Colleges Scholars at the Capitol event, Feb. 19, in the State Capitol rotunda, St. Paul, Minn.
The profile revealed that Barack Obama is ambitious and confident; modestly dominant and self-asserting; accommodating, cooperative, and agreeable; somewhat outgoing and congenial; and relatively conscientious. The combination of ambitious and accommodating patterns in Obama’s profile suggests a “confident conciliator” personality composite.
Leaders with this personality prototype, though self-assured and ambitious, are characteristically gracious, considerate, and benevolent. They are energetic, charming, and agreeable, with a special talent for settling differences and a preference for mediation and compromise over force or coercion as a strategy for resolving conflict. They are driven primarily by a need for achievement, but also have substantial affiliation needs and a modest need for power.
The study offers an empirically based framework for anticipating Obama’s performance as chief executive. The following general predictions regarding Obama’s likely leadership style can be inferred from his personality profile:
- Ambitious, self-assured, gracious, considerate
- Preference for mediation and compromise over force or coercion as a strategy for resolving conflict
- High need for achievement; moderate need for affiliation; low need for power
- More pragmatic than ideological
- More task- than relationship oriented
- Likely to act as a strong advocate in his administration, using his powers of persuasion to advance his policy vision
- Preference for gathering information from a variety of sources rather than relying solely on advisors and administration officials
- In dealing with members of Congress, may show preference for avoiding unnecessary conflict by trying to remain above the fray in heated, highly divisive debates
- Preference for articulating and defending his policies in person rather than relying on staff and administration officials to speak for him
vote upvote downshareprintflag
- Useful (19)
- Funny (7)
- Awesome (5)
- Beautiful (8)
- Interesting (6)
CommentsLoading...
Dick, your point is well-taken. The second 100 days have shown the true reailty. It doesn't matter whose in the oval office. The whole two-party system is broken and no one really wants to come up with solutions to tough problems. It's blame and shame to get seats in the game in which no one gains except those vying for a place on the Hill.
we voted obama hoping he would stop war in the middle east, but he put instead...
I have to agree with ecoggins, the system is broken. We have politicians on both sides who enjoy having their pockets filled to brimming with money from big business and special interest groups, including the health insurance companies.
Until congress steps up and puts a stop to lobyists and buying up of legislators, there will never be a government for the people, by the people.
Vicki thank you for your insightful comments.
u guys are not being rational and seeing the things he have done not the ones he havent reach to yet
Harold, thank you for your comments. I appreciate that you took time to make your opinion known. No doubt, President Obama worked hard in his first year. I believe that he approached the work of the President sincerely and to the best of his ability. Admirably and to his credit, he attempted to keep his campaign promises. He made it clear upfront that the road to recovery would be long and hard. He was right and it has only been a year. No one should have expected that he could have done all he said he wanted to do. But, he has tried. I think you're right; we should look at what he has accomplished like changing the tenor of U.S. international relations. Still, his inability to affect meaningful change in the financial sector and to curb lobbyists in Washington is kind of alarming and even correspondents who favored Obama like Arianna Huffington are questioning whether he has the stuff to make the kind of changes the country calls for.
I'm very concerned that 19% of people selected "war on terror" in your poll. Argh! Why are people so into playing that game? More people die every month from lack of health care than died on 9/11.
Health Care is a far far far more important issue than the so called "war on terror."
An interesting perspective on Obama. His concern for transforming is highly welcome. Yet in the middle of all this there is a need for caution the degree of inclination to transform may not be high in some nations. The reasons may be many. Good article.
RamKkasturi
obama obama obama obama
hes so hot
I have followed Obama from the campaign up till date. The guy is quite admirable. I am in the UK where there are hardly any decisiveness in dealing with issues, yet in the States, where there are more hidden powers/hands and wheels that turn the political motions than you have true policy makers, Obama has made some reall tough and powerfull decisions that has affected the corporate America and American citizens (case in point: Goldman S & health care reforms) Primarilly, the key thing is that the guy is really and genuinely trying his best to bring about positive change and reforms to the coporate America in particular and the average joe blogs in the street. It is not and will never be easy, and he will face very tough oppositions, and importantly his success/failure will be relative, however the one thing that clearly stands out is that he is genuinely trying to make the required positive change. You guys in the States do not know how lucky you are to have Obama. I truely and genuinely wish him all the best and i strongly advise you all do the same and work with him to bring about the Change you desperately need.
Cheers
Ben UK
Ben you are talking nonsense, where did you study your tin pot politics, this is more like a fan mail. by the way do you have a uni education.
i think he's doing his best and he's an amibtional guy and i think people need to cut him some slack coz he's probably the best president we've had ever and he's only just started plus he's BLACK lol
Damned if he do damned if he don't. Ignorance will remain to be the barrier to why people can not or will not see the President's worth and what he is doing to help America, as well as other countries. Even if he did stop the war, so many will find ways to be displeased with that as well. It does not matter what good he does, that group of ignorant people will find fault in him regardless. You can not name 1 President who was "PERFECT" in every way, shape, or form. They all are unique and share many differences as well as some similarities. So much concentration on what he has not done, or how he completes a task, and very little thanks for what he has done and is doing. Obama is for ALL people not 'one' people. Not he, nor any other future President will ever totally satisfy everyone all at once. People are going to forever complain no matter what degree of progress has taken place or has not.
Proud parent, Thank you sharing your heart. I agree that a President is stuck between a rock and a hard place. I hope you found my article to be a positive reflection on the Office of the Presidency and Obama as well. My other article about American's Waking up to the Limits of the Presidency covers what you share in your post.
I believe he is one of the most inspirational leaders of our current times. Sure, he's not all that the campaign made him look to be, and there's a lot to be criticized about him. But given the circumstances, he's doing quiet a good job - surely much better the Dubya did before. He's an excellent leader, because instead of using fear, he uses vision to inspire people.
Negotiation Skills Training, thank you for your comments. Every President has his challenges, I admire President Obama not because I necessarily agre with all his policies, but because he is attempting to fulfill the promises he made during the campaign (even if he had to compromise and accept something less than his original vision).
obamas cool
james, thank you for visiting and sharing with me.
President Obama has demonstrated thoughtful leadership that America can be proud of.
I believe all candidates for president should be given IQ test to verify at least 120 i.q!
gordie, thank you for stopping by and sharing your insights. I agree with you that President Obama is doing what he thinks is best for the country.
Saw your comments regarding all of the disrespectful, yes, shameful billboards that are popping up with anti-Obama sentiment. Decided to check out some of your blogs because you seem thoughtful and balanced. Seems that is what is missing in this current, hateful environment. Respect for others seems to be gone or disappearing quickly in our country and it makes me ashamed. In my opinion, Obama has done nothing to destroy the "American way" of life; my taxes have not gone up; indeed, they have gone down and I am obviously not living in a country where the rights of the people have been destroyed if the freedom to print or say anything is still allowed. People carrying guns to political rallies? Unbelievable! Thank you for being thoughtful and respectful to our President. He is in a tough spot-so many things, not of his making, have happened at once that it is almost impossible to make people happy. I guess that whenever the economy goes south, people go a little nuts. Even understanding that, it is difficult for me to see the intolerance and hatred that many people have for this man.
Jillian, you are right. I do not have to buy completely into his policies or agenda to respect him. He is my president even if I don't agree with him in everything. America likes to hold itself up as an example for the whole world in terms of freedom and democracy and how to run a country for the people by the people. In some ways, we want to think we are more enlightened than others around the world. Sure, England has its tabloids and love to lampoon their political figures more for entertainment than anything else. But, such hateful billboards are anything but enlightened and show that America is not what it claims to be.
With that said, I believe the USA can be that nation. I believe it can be an example of a free society that governs its own affairs well with each citizen doing their part in the election process and no member of its citizenry being left out of the process because race, color, ethnicity, or creed.
President Obama has had the misfortune of becoming president at possibly the worst time in the history of economics. The pressures have been building for years in a variety of areas. Energy cost, food cost, mortgage lending practices, unemployment, war. Add to that the worst oil spill in history that happened on his watch. None of this has been President Obama's fault, but he has to lead the responses to them. Most of the past presidents had at most one or two of these crises happen at a time. President Obama has them all at once and any of them could completely destabilize the economy. I mean catastrophic destabilizing. President Obama is not alone as he leads a nation with fractured governing system. Britain, Canada and now Australia have each elected coalition forms of government, which is rare for each, unheard of for 3 to happen at once. I don't know how President Obama is going to fix it all, or if he even can. There are 24 years of damaging economic actions that brought the world to the present situation. Purely negative or hateful reactions to the president are certainly not going to work.
dear javrsmith, thank you sooo much for your post. What you say is true. No one could expect this president or any other to fix this mess in such a short time. I even said so in my hub Americans Awaken to the Limits of the American Presidency. And, purely hateful reactions to Mr. Obama will not help the situation.
Now it seems that Sweden has also failed to elect a majority government. This will mire their government as well.
Im like well good ladzzzzzz
ecoggins, you are very itelligent, you reject the thinking of most americans that every negative situation that occursis simply obama's fault. If Obama made 1/4 of the serios mistakes that george bush made he would be impeached on site. we need more people with your style of modern intellectual rational thinking.
liberal2010 - thank you for your encouraging comments.
I think I like President Obama in the way that he has a high need for achievement, moderate need for affiliation and low need for power. This makes him quite different from other US presidents.
oulath, thank you for joining in the conversation. I appreciate your insights.
what the hell did you expect obama to do in the good ol US - cure cancer, make everyone a milliare and live forever
Obama can olny lead America to solve its ills- hes only capable of what the people of the US do
I think Obama is an absolutely outstnding leader and has done exactly what needed to be done- the country was broke from the republicans starting fights with everyone - he put away the sword and tried to gather nations together
Bush bankrupted the US starting fights, encouraging pure captilism and duboius lending, inventing fancy ways to kill men in cave and on horseback.
Obama has made the world a safer place he is the most switched on Leader the US has had in decades
Mr. wtf, I appreciate all of your comments except the first paragraph. I'm trying to figure out if you even read this hub or not. The article plus most of the comments seem to agree with you, but your tone makes it seem like you think they do not. Anyway, there is no doubt Obama started with his back to the wall...and...no one should have expected him to turn things around over night. But, may I add, you are not going to draw many to hear your points if you use pseudonyms like wtf with people who seem to agree with you.
WTF is in reference to some of the stuff Im seeing coming out of the right wing side of politics - the scare campaign with socailism (how dare poor people get medical treatment without cost) which I was reading before I saw this blog (which I liked and appreciated) Im just amazed how people cant appreciate the improvement in the leadership in the whitehouse since the bush days
put yourself in obamas shoes and see if you can handle his job!
I get mixed feelings about President Obama. I was very impressed early when he praised our military during the rescue of that sea captain. The fact that he smartly returns the salutes of the honor guard (as did Reagan and Bush) tells me he genuinly cares about our young men and women in uniform. On the other hand his administration threatens to sue the Arizona immigration law, ignore California's fedral marijona law yet when it came to the mousque in New York he suddenly quotes the letter of the law. I don't think our leaders should be hand picking which laws should be challanged, which one's ignored and which ones enforced. Latley though I have been impressed with him. Guess it'll all pan out one way or the other in the next Presidential election.
Where'd scott go?
...lol
Obama is certainly charismatic leader, his personality is generating waves which are mesmerizing people and desperate people of world oz out hope in heart that messiah as come and will make the world safer place to live life and cherished.
Wow, I'm amazed that people are still thinking straight. Everybody who commented was rational. One comment said that we need to cut the president some slack. The other said that if Obama made just a 1/4 of the mistakes of bush, he would be impeached on the spot. Well, I don't think he would be impeached but it is obvious that standards of approval for him are very high. He can't get away with anything like some other presidents. It sucks for him but this is good for country, more pressure on him will made him do things faster than the rate at which presidents usually deliver their promises. I didn't vote for him but I think he has tried extremely hard to deliver his promises. I'm glad that he won though because it looks like the right does not have much to offer to middle class people which is where I belong. It has much to offer for the stinking rich. I jumped onto the wrong bandwagon. I wont jump on it again until they absolutely put me at the center of their policies.
Green 11 - thank you for your comments. I appreciate your candor. Even if I am not sure that all his policies are right for America, it does seem in most cases that Obama has attempted to fulfill his promises.
I lovw Obama, he is amazing. I wish he was the French President. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
President Obama mission is to bring together Democrats , libertarian and other GOP establishment Americans of all political parties to build a caucus of supporters in each state to support the campaign and nomination of President Obama for President on the Democrat Party ticket in 2012.
His 2008 campaign as a Democrat with respect and Presidential candidate was attacked by GOP elites just as strongly as libertarian GOP presidential candidate John Edwards and both in hindsight have been proven right on most issues. The GOP establishment wants both of these pro-liberty candidates out of the race so they can nominate another Bush ( worse President in America’s history)! Or another Ronald Reagan ( Who suffer from Alzheimer while in Office).
The exploding national debt, the falling dollar and collapsing economy requires real leadership not another Bush/McCain style candidate that will promise conservative and free-market solutions during the election but only deliver more debt, bailouts of special interests and foreign policy blunders when elected.
President Obama’s recovery plan is working. Not as fast as he wants nor many Americans want. A return to a Republican President would be disastrous to the country and the world! Republicans have a proven record of failure! The Republican candidate campaigning for the 2012 election are either crazy or down right stupid! Or responsible for some of the most disastrous decision! Republican voter have an opportunity to see stupid unqualified Republicans coming. AND STOP ANOTHER BUSH FROM BEING PRESIDENT!
I've been browsing on-line more than three hours lately, but I by no means found any interesting article like yours. It's lovely price sufficient for me. Personally, if all site owners and bloggers made good content as you probably did, the net can be a lot more useful than ever before.
Ramon, Thank you. I appeciate the encouraging comments and hope all the best to you.
Constantly I hear what Obama has not done for everyone and this country. Usually they are people who can't name one thing great the last president did for us.He came into this mess willing to try and fix it. It's like committing yourself to someone who has been treated like crap by every person before you. They will have, doubt, lowselfseteem and much more bagage. The sistuation the country is in has to do with the people that led us before. Obama has to clean it up and then move us forward. As indivisuals you have to meet him in the middle. Sitting around complaining instead of doing your part to raise our economy LIKE VOTING!! Or writing you legistlators.
Not to worry - Obama is done...unless he can keep his office by a "Suspended Elections Revolution". Listen to this video, especially from 4:45 on.
President Obama was God sent. This nation prayed for a leader and God sent Barack Obama. A man who understand and know first hand the people of this country. His many qualities have set the US back into the proper position as the World Leader. Does it deserves this distinction? Is it because of the fight or financial power? Or is it because God lead the Patriachs and Matriachs to do the right and put into place the right wording in the constitution that make this country a world leader. United State history indicated the sad and terrible issues that were confronted on it's own soil. Still those same ugly and hateful issues keep coming to the forefront, why? ECoggin, you may wonder what does all this have to do with the article, well your article was a character profile of the President and the comments came from a wide network of viewers that stated the accomplishment and failure, the ups and downs or the President. I wish to say that President Barack Obama was an answer to prayer. He is a Leader that have the needed atributes, ambition, confident, modest, self-asserting, accomondating, cooperative and agreeable, outgoing, congenial, polite and courageous. If he had to ride a horse with a sword in his hand, I believe he would do it. Because of his understand and heartfelt acceptance of the Consitution of the United States, he tries not to step outside of framework of the founding fathers. He has often petitioned the people to step to their elected officials and demand they do the right thing. I am guilty of not speaking out to the proper persons so I know that many are the same. So I will do better. Also, when he, Mr. Obama, became President, the ugly hatered serpent rose up, with the statement and attitude to make his administration FAIL. Remember, America is a Democracy, the president can recommend but can't make the recommendation a law without others.(there are very few cases otherwise) The powers that be (GOP/Tea Party) even signed contracts to make the government fail. Why haven't those individual been impeached? So to conclude a reply that was to be short and breif I would like to ask this question. What does America really want in a President? I enjoyed your article. Thanks
JJW3:16, you ask a very pertinent question. What indeed do the American people want in their President? Certainly, he cannot be all things to all people. And, as one man e cannot do it by himself. It is as John F. Kennedy called "ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." What article about the limitations of the presidency saks to that issue.
he is cool man so cool
Amazingly i agree with keeping Mr. Obama as our president and give him more time to represent us in this crazy world. Soon enough I am about a good 90% sure the war on terror will end, due to the fact that United States will treat other countries fair and with kindness. Among others in his agenda, they will all be done. I just found very disrespectful and childish to think, that in 4 years a human being can fix the mess up of so many decades before, to not mention the mess ups of the President before his time. No words to describe what is coming for us, 2012 or 2020-- what i know is that if we the american people give him an opportunity to fix things up in appropriate and fair time, Our President Obama will, in a hard bit!!
Great article you all be safe.
You haters who always find fault with President Obama need to be quiet, you said nothing when Bush was in office making such a mess and now you think that you are the leader of this country. Focus on the the ones and forces that are causing so much opposition to the President being able to get things done like Banard he's the jurk he opposes everything the President is trying to get accouplished and he is the one that needs to step aside obviously Banard is an unhappy jealous person as is many typical greedy men in the senate and house. Take a look at what you are saying before you speak.
CAROLYN thank you for your passionate defense of the President. Still, I am not sure this article and the majority comments listed above would qualify those who made them as "haters." In fact, the vast majority of comments on this article are positive or at least attempt to give the president the benefit of the doubt. I searched the Internet and I am not sure who this person Banard is unless you mean Speaker of the House John Boehner of Ohio.
Everybody needs to look back at what was said during the campain, He said his plans would take sometime, and we are now seeing the results, Unemployment has dropped to it's lowest point in years. The troops are being taken out of foreign lands, the health care plan is proceeding, although it has a up hill battle in the Supreme Court. Going down his list of the things he proposed, are becoming reality. The old saying "if it ain't broke don't fix it" and his policies are working and do not need to be changed. Change take time, and they need to have time to change, but not with new leadership. New leadership would only hinder the progress that is being made.
Thank you John for sharing your insights. I will agree with you that to his credit the president has attempted to fulfill his most publicly heralded campaign promises. And, I commend him for that.
As far as healthcare goes, my family members and I have been recipients of government subsidized health care on several occasions (in Thailand and Canada) and received higher quality and more timely medical care than here in the USA. I think people in the USA need more affordable health care and believe those with pre-existing medical conditions should have access to quality health care. Still, the health care plan on the table is not affordable to middle class familes and could even bankrupt my family. Moreover, I am not sure whether forcing private citizens to purchase health care policies is constitutional.
In regards to unemployment, the manner by which the government measures the unemployment rate is more complicated than in other times because both (a) baby boomers (who are beginning to retire) and (b) many who have been looking for employment for years have dropped out of the employment system altogether ( mostly because their unemplotment benefits ran out and they are unable to reapply).
i love barack
AMERICA IS BEING SOLD OUT, BHO IS NOT DOING THINGS FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY THAT ARE RIGHT AND PROPER. EVERYTHING OUR FOREFATHERS FOUGHT FOR ARE BEING DESCECRATED. WE ARE BEING LED BY A MUSLIM AND THAT IS NOT GOOD AT ALL, WE ARE BEING LED TO THE SLAUGHTER JUST LIKE SHEEP, AND JUST POSSIBLE THIS COUNTRY IS FALLING FOR LACK OF PROPER LEADERSHIP.
i think Barack Obama is great i may not be in the united states of America but i think he is the right person to be the president he has the skills the knowledge and he has ambition he knows what he needs to do, to help people who needs to be helped. I think Barack Obama is awesome :)
i think he is awesome
Dick G. 2 years ago
Obama leadership? More like Obama failure. He can't even lead a democrat controlled house and sentrate to pass a health care bill of their own design. Pretty pathetic.