Comments on: Connecting President Obama’s Comments – a Leadership Lesson for Us

By: Why Those in Sales Must Demonstrate Great Leadership | Increase Sales Blog

Why Those in Sales Must Demonstrate Great Leadership | Increase Sales Blog — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:29:57 +0000

[...] the hard way. Leo Hindrey wrote about the CEO shortsightedness. Then Kevin Eikenberry discussed leadership respective to the current oil [...]

By: Mohamed Siraj Haleem

Mohamed Siraj Haleem — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 04:59:22 +0000

“A person of that caliber should be more sensitive and should not have made such senseless comments,” and “he would not work for me due to his inactivity.”

Is it senseless or the opposite? I believe it is FULL OF SENSE!!!
What is there to talk or listen when it has happened!!!

Aren’t we are what we are today, because of what we decided and did yesterday? If so what is there to talk beside firing and fining for life!!!

At least, Mr. President has saved the CEO with ”few firm words” and I am confident that more actionable policies will be reintroduced or amended to the Constitution to avoid all such mishaps while making someone responsible or at least, pay higher penalties?

By: Vic Stevens

Vic Stevens — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 23:42:36 +0000

Firing Tony is as pointless as speaking to him. They’d just fill his slot with another corporate wonk. Fire instead the BP chain of command that lead to the alleged shortchanging on equipment which may have lead to the loss of oil flow control. Fire anyone who ever said, “Drill, baby, drill”. I think the very idea of drilling in the Gulf for oil is abhorrent. Why haven’t we developed alternatives to fossil fuel, especially since 9/11?

This is no ordinary oil spill. This is no tanker collision. This is a tremendous catastrophe from which we may never recover.

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:09:06 +0000

When I look at different models of leadership I don’t see “point the finger and blame others” as a good trait or characteristic of a leader. Obama’s comments are almost funny if they weren’t so sad. Firing a guy for his statements without checking to see if you really understand and have the whole picture is not a well thought out strategy. And not talking to the CEO because Obama has a stereotype about big oil CEO’s – wow. It almost leaves me speechless. Nothing like labeling someone without having ever talked to them.

By: Rich Evans

Rich Evans — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 19:07:56 +0000

I think this is a well thought out article that challenges leaders to look at how to work with one another in solving issues vs. pointing fingers and Monday morning quarterbacking others decisions.

By: davidburkus

davidburkus — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 18:48:45 +0000

Interesting thoughts. I’m trying to avoid political bias here, but I’d wager that America would offer the same comments on Obama’s oil spill leadership as Obama offered Hayward. “We’re not interested in talk, even if you’re mad. We’re interested in action.”

By: Jerry Gray

Jerry Gray — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 18:34:47 +0000

Hi Chris, I had a slightly different take on the “ass-kicking” comment, not that I cared as much about whether it sounded presidential; the President was obviously trying to sound like he was tough on this issue. However, the challenge is because he appears to have some leadership challenges no one is scared of an Obama ass-kicking because it doesn’t carry any weight.

Now, to Kevin’s question, no you wouldn’t fire someone without speaking to them. Although this was a hypothetical, here’s the thing, TALK to the guy directly. Yes, he may “say all the right things” but then you can FOLLOW-UP and THEN see if he did all the right things, took the right actions. At this point in time you can have a conversation about corrective actions, but there has to be a dialog to begin with. That dialog is sorely lacking and reflective of the knee jerk finger-pointing we tend to get out of Washington.

By: Pam Riggins

Pam Riggins — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 17:02:00 +0000

I couldn’t agree with you, KJevin, and Chris Tegtmeyer more!
This sounds more like a rock star trying to gain attention and throw his weight around than any true leader.
“As leaders we must realize the importance of personal interaction, and not underestimate what we can learn from them”. Unfortunately, personal interaction seems to be disappearing as people hide behind a keyboard, but that’s a whole other subject.

By: Zane Safrit

Zane Safrit — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:43:22 +0000

Obama’s comments are in line with comments made by presidents in the past of every partisan stripe. The difference today is the overwhelming amount of media coverage. That being said, he should understand that.

I have no problem with what he said. It was honest. It was transparent. It was clear. I find myself very impatient with the usual well-coached politician giving a well-coached PR-palatable response.

I agree with his assessment of the value of meeting the CEO of BP. What is going to be gained from it but a photo op that brings more value to the CEO of BP than to the president or us? The CEO of BP has played a crucial role in creating the culture of BP. And his leadership and the values he prioritizes has been on display with BP’s culture and their results long enough to know the value of a meeting in person. Would we expect to find that BP’s culture is in direct conflict with that of their CEO. Doubt it. Has their CEO shown any predilection for…his ability to follow through on any of his PR-speak commitments?

But I think now, now that the leader of BP has been given ample opportunity to rise to the occasion as a leader with solutions and the ability to communicate them and he’s shown consistently he is not capable of rising to this occassion, it’s time to move on from him in our discussions. President Obama should move on to talk only with those people, true leaders, who have solutions, not who present obstacles and rear-guard strategies for their implementation.

By: Kevin Cooper

Kevin Cooper — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:32:06 +0000

Wow. The President has been in office long enough to know better to send messages like that. My only explanation is that he knew what he wanted to say before the interview and was very calculated in his use of those statements. It makes him look like just another finger pointer and not a problem solver, least of all a crisis handler. I will admit that I am a moderate republican, but I’ve tried to be open-minded about this President. Its getting harder to keep an open mind.

By: Tweets that mention President Obama's Comments - A Leadership Lesson for Us -- Topsy.com

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:48:58 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Business Wise and Kimberly Seeger,CPLP, Rick Howe. Rick Howe said: RT @KevinEikenberry President Obama's Comments – A Leadership Lesson for Us http://bit.ly/9cLndf [...]

By: Chris Tegtmeyer

Chris Tegtmeyer — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:45:47 +0000

“I don’t sit around just talking to experts because this is a college seminar,” the president added. “We talk to these folks because they potentially have the best answers, so I know whose ass to kick.”

Doesn’t sound very “presidential”, and sure doesn’t inspire!

By: Mabel

Mabel — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:41:26 +0000

My take was that IF the BP CEO worked for the President he would have fired him by now. That was a hypothetical situation- and I am confident that IF the BP CEO worked for the President I am sure the President would have had a conversation with him- not just fire him without talking with him. His comment on not having had a conversation with BP’s CEO really has no relation to the hypothetical situation posed. However I am in agreement that as the President that he should- or at least someone in the Whitehouse should have a conversation with Mr. Hayward regarding this disaster and what the resolution is going to be. In general, I believe everyone is hanging onto President Obama’s every word and action, waiting for an opportunity to criticize.

By: Ann Eisenman

Ann Eisenman — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:35:07 +0000

Thanks for your thought provoking commentary.

In reading the transcripts of the President, and having watched the interview myself this morning, what I hear President Obama say is, “A person of that caliber should be more sensitive and should not have made such senseless comments,” and “he would not work for me due to his inactivity.”

Lastly, the movie “Up In The Air” highlights the layoff situation in our world now, maybe to a theatrical extreme, however, I am sure many of those laid off in recent years were not talked to about their performances. Sad but true.