Character of President Barrack Obama

The Leadership of Barack Obama

The 44th US president, Barrack Obama, presided over the country from 2009 to 2017. Prior to his current position, President Obama represented Illinois in the Illinois State Senate from 2005 to 2008. Because of some of the choices he made as the 44th president of the United States, I believe President Obama to be one of the world's greatest leaders. This person actually served as a leader, one who was enthusiastic about the nation and set a wonderful example for our young people. Obama was well-liked and a successful politician before he was elected president of the United States. He will continue to be revered, he will remain respected especially by the people from Illinois where he served as the senator. It was because of his good deeds such as helping the community that made him a public figure before being elected into a political position to represent the people (Davis, 2012). Holding one of the highest positions in the world as the first African American president was by no means an achievement. Despite the fact that the United States president does have the support of the aides, advisors, and even the cabinet president is usually the public figure who bears all the accolades for anything and President Obama just represented the people well.

The Attributes of an Effective Leader

Barack Obama had all the attributes of an effective leader, and that is exactly what made him a leader of the greatest repute across the globe and a statesman. Even some of the countries that do not have very closer ties with the United States still admired Mr. Obama. Obama was conviction and preservative. Mr., Obama always had a firm belief that if something is right and you are on the right track, then it is possible to influence other people toward the achievement of that dream. For instance when he took a firm decision on important issues like the united nation resolution in the Palestine-Israel conflict everyone believed in him because many through that he had a valid reason. He knew the job and talked with logic well influencing other leaders and people so that his points were understood.

Risk Taking and Legacy

Mr. Obama will remain to be one of the greatest risk takers in history. In the world, it is common for people to practice safe especially when it comes anything that is related to professionalism or work. Risk taking even if it is a minor it’s not entirely all peoples cup of tea. This is the major reason why the most successful people are the ones who take some level of risk because they always emerge as being triumphant. In his book, the "Audacity of Hope" President Obama mentioned that one of his greatest gambles was running for the presidency even though some of the advisors advised him otherwise. His political risks are some of the akin of risk that he took in life (Unger, 2016). In many cases, Obama urged young people to take risks especially calculated ones in life. The more you mention his name, the more you are inclined to risks in life and also benefit from the successes and failure that occur in the process. Despite the fact that Mr. Obamas two terms came to an end his legacy will continue forever. A leader is simply a person who is never satisfied with the present achievements but always aim at achieving more. Take the example of Barrack Obama.

Behavioral Approach

Obamas was more of a collaborative leader. Instead of just being forceful in his decision the decision making Mr. Obama listened to other people first before he made his decision. Collaboration also implied that he made the decision based on research so that they had a positive outcome. During his tenure, Mr. Obama created a leadership model that is known as contingency or the preferences and needs of other people and some level of control that he averts over his environment. When he traveled from country to country in his eight years of service, Mr. Obama remained to be reconciliatory. He humbled himself before the foreign leader and even listened to others before he spoke out. This was contrary when he dealt with leaders and executives of the failing American auto industry; he was steadfast because he believed in change. His words were outright and firm. Indeed Mr. Obama had flaw, but this certainly didn’t facts about his leadership style that made him one of the reputable presidents America has ever had.

Inspiring Others and the Goal Path Theory

Obama was a leader who believed that other people can also make it. He inspired other people especially the young people to take an initiative and take risks in life. This trait came handy during his presidential campaigns, he managed to draw so many people by his side because of the things he believed in. the former president appealed across different religion and race. He handled thing pretty well in the middle of Islamophobia. He will be considered to be one of the best speech givers in the American history and notably one of the most inspiring leaders the world has ever seen.

Goal Path Theory

President Obama was indeed a supportive and also a directive leader. During the presidential campaigns Mr. stood out magnificently as having the ability the paint the vision for the future and give the people a chance to believe in themselves. The use of change and hope was the oil that was used to create this painting. While in his office the president slightly changed the tactic by motivating other people to also participate. Mr. Obama will always be known to be one of the greatest delegator and one who turned responsibility to competent and capable individuals in addition to very qualified people in different posts. Some of the people maintain the healthcare crisis could be avoided incase the president took a personal initiative rather than delegating the matter to Reid and Pelosi (Unger, 2016). This was a leader who believed that other people could do it and the size of the task did not matter what was important was the ability to inspire others and give them a reason to believe in themselves.

Inclusive Leadership

Mr. Obama believed in ‘we’ and not an “I” attitude. In most of his speeches that the former president delivered he talked of plural ‘we’ but not I. this was indeed a smart way to bring many people on board and get them involved in matters that affect the country. This also served as an inspiration because everyone actually believed they can contribute something positive to that cause. This can be one of the most important leadership attribute because it gives those people around you a sense of ownership that is important in the achievement of a particular task. Because of the ‘we’ individual citizens in cities and towns ended up believing that they had contributed something to the country at general which they felt proud of (Logan, 2014).

Obama Was an Effective Leader

Obama was for the people. Unlike other presidents who came before him Mr. Obamas actions were enthused by an earnest desire to do what was good for the common citizens even if it meant that he will lose ground this was actually what made him famous among the middle class. He openly advocated for the rights of the disenfranchised individuals in the society. He openly talked about some of the topics that had been previously considered to be controversial his support for gay marriage is a good example. Obama openly supported gay marriage and stated that all people had a right to choose the path they wish to take in life.

Bridging Divides and Promoting Peace

Obama stood for one race and that was the human race. Obama used his charismatic personality to bridge a gap between different races. The United States was a more unified state under the leadership of president Obama. The racial divide that had been widening between the white and black individuals seems to be narrowing thanks to Obama administration. This president actually stood for peace not only in American but also across the globe. In 2009 the president was awarded a Nobel peace prize, this is one of the greatest achievement that a man or a woman could have in his lifetime. He was awarded for his personal effort to strengthen international diplomacy and corporation between nations and people. During his eight term presidency, Obama successfully ended Iraq war, Osama bin laden was also annihilated closing the chapter of warmongering.

Opportunities for Improvement

During his 2 terms as the presidency Obama always reminded his audience that his presidency was made possible because of the brave children, women and men of the civil right movement. He acknowledged the use of mass action as a better method building democracy and ensuring good governance. He did not limit his protest when talking about America only. In 2011 president Obama openly praised the protestors of the Arab spring in North Africa and America. President Obama referred to them as powerful democratic expression of the society. Obama considered mass protest as tool that can be used by the marginalized. It was thus unfortunate and ironic that during his two term presidency he fail to direct that praise to the pro-democracy demonstrators in the states located south of Maghreb. His silence on the protests that took place in Africa was a missed opportunity to engage directly with citizens who were demonstrating for their rights (Logan, 2014).

When Obama visited Africa as the head of state president Obama raised issues to do with good governance and transparency. But he reserved his remarks entirely for the presidents of this nations. He finagled on them as the onus of change. In America no president had much goodwill than president Obama. He failed to use that opportunity to resolve some of the issues that the American people press. Obama continued to play safe by avoiding those issues such as discrimination that people have advocating against for decades. Despite these few downfalls president Obama will still remain in the hearts of many as one of the most influential leader the world has ever had.

References

Davis, J. (2012). The Barack Obama presidency (1st ed.). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Logan, E. (2014). Barack Obama, the New Politics of Race, and Classed Constructions of Racial Blackness. The Sociological Quarterly, 55(4), 653-682. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/tsq.12071

Unger, D. (2016). The Foreign Policy Legacy of Barack Obama. The International Spectator, 51(4), 1-16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03932729.2016.1227914