LEADERSHIP: AND, THE OBAMA CABINET

As President-elect, three of Barack Obama's earliest appointments have been: Treasury secretary (Timothy Geithner); Director, National Economic Council (Lawrence Summers); and Director, Council of Economic Advisers (Christina Romer) .  Why these roles, and why so quickly?

Well yes, the answer's obvious: like any leader, he must deal first with the most critical challenges.  And, in the US and globally, it's financial markets and economic issues.  If he fails in these, all else fails.  There are other problems: health care, the environment; and yes, wars.  But, for the moment, none is make or break.

National leaders and corporate CEOs can build a team around them of experienced, skilful people.  But, if you're a small-business owner or run a non-profit or manage just one part of a larger enterprise, you may be the only leader in your area.  You can't recruit world-famous people for financial advice or anything else.  You have to do it yourself - with some help perhaps from those around you.

So, that raises an issue for each of us as leaders: what are our most pressing issues - the make or break ones?  Are we focusing our skills and effort on what's critical, or on what we like to do, or we've done traditionally?

If you asked your team, what would they say is most critical for you, as their leader, today and going forward?  Is it finance: cash management, margins, cost control?  Or, is it sales, production, service levels, people management, culture or what?

If this feels like something you need to explore, then here's how.  Develop a Leadership Action Plan - using our V|E|C|T|O|R framework.  It will ask you to think (from the perspective of your followers!) about what questions need answering, and what actions you need to take to lead them effectively - so they’re clear about the journey, the critical challenges, their own roles, required outputs, etc.

Unlike President Obama, you may not have a cabinet.  But, you can act as though you do; you just occupy every chair.  The key is having the discipline (and courage) to review what's really important and allocate your time and abilities accordingly.

Yes, Mr President, I'll make a plan today.

Categories for this Potshot:

Great-leader Potshots, GFC Potshots, Build teamwork, Drive bottom line metrics, Attend to customers, Fix key commercial problems,

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