Archive for October, 2009

On Obama Winning the Nobel Peace Prize

>After my 5:30am workout this morning on the beach, I wandered into my office and decided to check on the morning news stories, since I rarely trust television to inform me (it’s solely for entertainment). Lo an behold I discovered that the Nobel Peace Prize announcement was made overnight. This surprised me, because I have to admit I wasn’t really following it.

Then I realized that it was awarded to Barack Obama. My surprise quickly turned to a few different emotions – shock, disgust, laughter, anger, disappointment, and doubt:

Shock that a body so revered as Nobel would grant this award to arguably the world’s best orator – and not much else.

Disgust that others in the world who have actually done things to promote peace were passed over

Laughter that the stardom surrounding our president has reached worldwide – broad and deep.

Anger that while the economy and security of our nation are, in my opinion, more at risk than ten months ago, this guy continues to pull a fast one on the minds of the world

Disappointment that our nation appears to be marching more towards a subject underneath the UN (read the transcript of the award – they are happy that Obama is elevating the UN back to its “rightful place”).

Doubt that the global political enamor with Obama will continue to cloud common sense and judgment about what should be done to get America back on track.

God help us.

2009
10/09
CATEGORY
Politics
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The Job of a Manager

>In a book I am reading, the author made the following point, which I pondered as I watched the waves crash on the shore today:

“The job of a manager is to create unnatural results.”

Hmmm….

At first I paused as I thought about what he really meant by that. Is a manager tasked with some supernatural powers to wield his will over his direct reports? No, I don’t think so, and I don’t think that’s what the author meant.

I think what he wanted to incite is that unless a manager is using his people to create results that wouldn’t happen on their own (naturally, in this case), then what is the need for the manager? In fact, I would argue that if we look at the natural behavior of most people – self-serving, lacking direction/motivation, myopically focused – then it is the job of the manager to motivate his team to get beyond those natural, say sinful, characteristics and to reach beyond that in a spirit of common good and teamwork to achieve the needed result. The unnatural result.

A manager’s job – a leader’s job – is to create more value out of the individual people through the assemblage of the collective group. If they are not able to do that, then they are not really managing, regardless of their title. This also requires an intentional desire on the part of the manager to actually invest in their people individually and a group to make this happen, since, after all, it’s not a natural occurrence) rather that solely focusing on their own career goals, needs, and priorities.

Those that do make that choice become leaders worth following. Those that don’t end up being ineffective and eventually redundant.

2009
10/08
CATEGORY
Life Lessons
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