The Triumph of Hope over Fear: The Ascendance of Barack Obama as a Love Leader
Posted On September 12, 2008 at 1:05 am in Love Leaders
As a Canadian I am interested in the US presidential primaries, although I have to admit that for the most part I am lost in the political rhetoric and somewhat confused by the entire process
This year an article grabbed my attention on November 2nd in the New York Times, entitled, If Elected….Obama Envisions New Iran Approach By Michael R. Gordon And Jeff Zeleny. In this interview, Senator Barack Obama said that forging a new relationship with Iran would be part of his effort to stabilize Iraq. What grabbed me here was the idea that someone in a leadership position would consider an approach that wasn’t aggressive. Sadly, my impression of US leaders in recent times is that for the most part when they are faced with a global conflict they believe that might makes right.
In the work I do of the Pacific Institute, with leaders of companies and organizations, we teach that the more you push someone the more pushback you get. So if you are trying to get something accomplished you are better to work constructively – pulling not pushing. Obama’s position intrigued me because what he suggested made me feel a kind of hope I have not felt in a long time about leaders, especially politicians. I can only hope that enough people recognize the potential greatness of this young leader so that he is the one giving the next State of the Union address in the US.
In any case, I began reading everything I could about and by Barack Obama and am in the middle of The Audacity of Hope. What I see in him are qualities of the kind of person I call “a Love Leader” in my own book, Love Leadership: What the World Needs Now. To me, he clearly is a person of principle (or values, as he calls them). Also, that he is a person who prizes good beyond himself, and a person who is striving to remain authentic in a career choice that makes it very difficult to remain authentic.
These qualities, if you have read my book, are all characteristics of a Love Leader. To me, the reason so many Americans are giving him serious consideration as the Democratic presidential nominee is because, to them , he represents a different and refreshing way to provide the country with a hope based agenda for moving forward.
A few weeks ago while visiting Mexico I met a couple of Americans who asked me who I as a Canadian would I vote for, if I could vote in the US election. I explained to them that like most people it seems I found it easy to dislike George Bush, and that Barrack Obama was the candidate who best mirrored my beliefs and values. I also told them about a chapter in Obama’s book where he was talking about George Bush, and surprised me. I had thought he would really slam Bush, since they are completely at odds in how they view the world. To my initial (immature) disappointment though, Obama did not slam Bush. In fact, he said several complementary things about the president, followed by comments about areas where he saw things differently.
I told my new acquaintances, that after thinking about this I was left with a great deal of respect for Obama. He made it abundantly clear that he saw things differently, by at the same time protected and respected Bush’s dignity, That is also what great Love Leaders do.
As a Canadian I have no real say with regard to who becomes US president.That does not mean we don’t care. And of course the direction and actions taken by the US President does have a dramatic effect on Canadian citizens and on our economy overall.
I also found it interesting that in the New Hampshire primary Senator Hillary Clinton was able to make such a dramatic comeback. In truth though, I wasn’t that surprised. In my book I talk about vulnerability as being a strength rather than a weakness. What Senator Clinton did when she broke down a little the night before the vote was show people her vulnerability. Her choking response to a question about how she was holding up turned the tide for her, then and there, perhaps permanently, perhaps not. In any case, people understandably want to know who they are dealing with/ they want to know if that person, that potential leader, really cares about them. And if that leader isn’t perfect and does reveal emotions, so much the better.
However, that being said, in the balance Barack Obama, to me, and for what it’s worth, is the most authentic, vulnerable, courageous and inspirational candidate there is, and represents the kind of leader, okay, the kind of Love Leader, these times demand. As I said…for what it’s worth. But for myself, I always choose Hope over Fear.
Gregg Cochlan
