Maintaining a competitive spirit and minimizing life choices are valuable pieces of advice President Barack Obama offers to future leaders.
With less than a year remaining, President Barack Obama will officially conclude his second term in the White House. He is celebrated as a brilliant leader, demonstrated by the positive changes he has brought to America after more than seven years of governing a superpower with over 322 million people.
His leadership style is world-renowned for its profound lessons learned on the political stage. In an interview titled "Obama's Way," he offers valuable advice to future managers, drawn from his own exceptional leadership experience and practical knowledge.
1. Don't surround yourself with people who just say what they mean and do what they say.
The best way to know your limits is to never surround yourself with people who always say "yes." People who challenge you, ask questions, and disagree with you will help you recognize the limitations of an issue and broaden your perspective on things.
2. Always maintain a competitive spirit.
To achieve the highest level of performance, a competitive spirit is indispensable. A department will develop more slowly if its members lack the spirit and motivation to compete with each other.
3. Exercise daily.
The higher your leadership position, the greater the responsibility and stress you face. At this point, a healthy and agile body, along with a clear mind, is crucial for handling these important tasks. Despite his busy schedule as president, Obama maintained a daily workout routine from 7:30 to 8:30.
4. Minimize choices in life.
Along with responsibility and pressure come crucial decisions you must make when in a leadership position. It's no coincidence that Steve Jobs' wardrobe contained only one style of black t-shirt. The fewer unnecessary choices you have, the less stressed you become, and the more time and mental energy you can dedicate to more important decisions.
5. Take responsibility for your decisions.
Obviously, not all of our decisions are always right. Especially when you have so many decisions in your hands, there will be times when you make mistakes. However, a good manager will always believe in and take responsibility for their decisions, not blaming circumstances or others or making excuses.
6. Listen to your employees, even those in the lowest positions.
There's a saying that it only takes two years to learn how to speak, but it takes much longer to learn how to listen. In meetings, President Obama was never the one who spoke the most because he always wanted to listen to the opinions and reasoning of his staff, even those in the lowest positions.
7. Take time to rest and relax when you have the time.
In the interview, in response to the question... "If one day people didn't know you were the President of the United States, what would you do?"Obama wants to return to his native Hawaii, where he was born, and spend the day enjoying its beautiful beaches.
Never let work pressure overwhelm you; always make time for your family and take breaks when necessary.
– HR Insider / VietnamWorks –
