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Once, Shame On You, Twice Shame on Me (Obama leadership)

Sun, Feb 1, 2009

Leaders In the News: Bad News, The Economy/Financial Crisis

I am a fan of Barack Obama. But several of his leadership choices are worrisome. They are negative “Signal Acts,” — deeds that resonate far deeper than words.

In case you hadn’t noticed, the Bush governance was replete with agencies that failed their fiduciary obligations (securities trading, regulating food safety, consumer safety, oil regulation, environment to the point that the average citizen could no longer trust the system. We saw favoritism, self-dealing, corruption. Barack promised a departure from “everybody does it.”

In that light, it is a negative Signal Act to continue with Tim Geithner. It is a negative Signal Act to continue with Tom Daschle. It is not encouraging to see the appointment of an SEC commissioner soft on oversight. “Nobody is perfect,” but cheating on taxes and failing to advise the President before he goes public with the appointment?

Future challenges will be even more severe and I don’t sense a true north that will restore faith in the system.

We cannot know the behind the scenes facts of the stimulus package, but David Brooks (New York Times) may be right: they had a clean, short-term stimulus package all set which would have had bipartisan support and set the path for the future; then the Dems added their laundry list and lost all Republican support and some Democratic support. Where was Obama at a time when he had the most public support for using his velvet-gloved steel hand?

Thats my view. What’s yours?

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Asides

  • Is our behavior in the face of challenge determined at birth or by our environment? Are leaders born rather than made?

    My obsession with what makes some ordinary people become extraordinary leaders led to my interviews with dozens of CEOs which Random House published in 2007 and to the Master Class series at Pace. The thesis is that there are particular “shaping experiences” which develop leadership traits and capabilities.

    Epi-genetics is the new field of study that is beginning to confirm that nurture determines a lot about us: our behavior, our illnesses and more. Work on animals and on human twins shows that no matter your genome, there is a system of markers that switch genes on and off in a way that controls your reaction to stimuli. These markers are largely from environmental factors from what happened while you were in the womb, to how you were treated in your childhood, to stressful situations to pollution. And the markers you have accumulated can go-awry as you age.

    The good news is that by treatment, including drugs, these markers can be added or removed.

    Together with breakthroughs in neuroscience (how our brain works during different mental and emotional conditions), we are about to glean powerful new understandings relevant to our lives as well as careers.

    For an intro to the field, view the PBS Nova Science Now program on the subject:

    http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3411/02.html

    That’s my view. What’s yours?

  • For a few years now, Jim Blasingame and I have shared stories, insights and practical suggestions for survival of small business in tough times. He should be your fave for an unlimited supply of helpful ideas for your business. Go to:

    http://blog.smallbusinessadvocate.com/management-fundamentals/small-business-economic-challenges
    and also to the home page of smallbusinessadvocate.com

    Please let me know how helpful you find this great resource. Jim is, himself, a very successful small business owner who knows whereof he speaks.

  • As I said in a prior post, the fruit vendor on a nearby street corner in New York City told me he is working on becoming a bank holding company so he can get in line for a bailout. Is there no end?

    Today’s announcement it was announced that insurance companies will be allowed to reduce the reserve capital they have to make sure they can pay benefits to customers when the time comes. Isn’t this converting insurers to be like AIG? Isn’t insurance with low reserves the same as gambling?

    There was no accompanying clear and detailed plan for oversight. Just like the billions of dollars that have flowed into the investment bank.

    That’s my view. What’s yours?