Friday 30 January 2015

Obama's rhetoric - what's in it for you?

The following is from President Obama's State of the Union address. For me it has many take aways for business leaders (see questions below)

"... Imagine if we broke out of these tired old patterns. Imagine if we did something different.

Understand — a better politics isn’t one where Democrats abandon their agenda or Republicans simply embrace mine.

A better politics is one where we appeal to each other’s basic decency instead of our basest fears.

A better politics is one where we debate without demonizing each other; where we talk issues, and values, and principles, and facts, rather than “gotcha” moments, or trivial gaffes, or fake controversies that have nothing to do with people’s daily lives.

A better politics is one where we spend less time drowning in dark money for ads that pull us into the gutter, and spend more time lifting young people up, with a sense of purpose and possibility, and asking them to join in the great mission of building America.

If we’re going to have arguments, let’s have arguments — but let’s make them debates worthy of this body and worthy of this country."

Key questions to ask

What tired, old patterns are you exhibiting as a leader?

What ways of being and doing could be better in your business?

Is your way the only way or are you constantly seeking to find and execute a way forward together?

Is decency or fear driving you?

Are you debating ideas without demonising the idea or the person/people presenting them?

Do your words and your actions lift people up?

Be remarkable.
Ian


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