November 15th, 2008
Free Advice For President Obama Regarding Managing Change
What a great opportunity our President elect has to gain and keep the trust of a vast majority of the American public. What an opportunity for our nation to reclaim our place at the top of the world community.
Think about it, 65 million voters voted for Barack Obama and over 130 million American voted in total! Never in modern times as there been so much interest in our nations politics. This is becoming bigger than the Super Bowl. The entire world is watching this defining moment in history.
So far so good for President elect Obama, a great and humble acceptance speech, what appears to be an excellent transition team, a potentially great economic advisory team. The man is looking and acting like a President.
The vision for the campaign was change, one word that has incredible possibilities and Barack has already gained the respect and admiration of many conservatives. Now the difficult part, what does change mean and how do you manage it? Even more important is how do you make the change positive and with the support of our nation?
Many business leader face the same challenge. Here is my free and unsolicited advice.
I offer a few simple steps for managing change.
1) Establish a strategic intent statement. Barack is visionary and this is a difficult one because of the vast nature of the republic. John Kennedy once said, “we will send a man to the moon and return him home safely before the end of the decade!” The goal was clear,{send a man to the moon} there was a time frame, {10 years} and it was a stretch goal. We need some sort of goal that all people can be aware of.
2) State the reason for change. This one is more obvious.
3) Express the benefit our nation will realize from this change.
4) Express the benefit we the people will realize from this change.
5) Express the role we the people must play to make this change possible.
6) Communicate the positive steps of the change, the YouTube radio address is one way, how about a federal blog that we the people can comment on ?celebrate the small steps to victory.
7) Have champions for change across the nation helping to gain support for your change initiative
If somebody has a better idea, use it, make modifications as necessary.
That is it, a 8 step plan for change. We can do this. What are your thoughts? How do you manage change? Lets talk!
November 15th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
I think that the greatest change he’ll need to manage when sworn into office is the new Great Depression. We’re only in the beginning stages now.
If we don’t expand war to Pakistan or get hit with war or terrorism here, that will be his biggest challenge.
November 16th, 2008 at 12:05 am
Hopefully the economy will perk up. Even if it doesn’t Im excited about what Obama will do.
November 16th, 2008 at 2:52 am
i love this idea! and have a few of my own re:
1. I think a goal is great but he must be bold, I suggest a works/voulenteer program. and reinstate the Peace Corp like he promised. I is a declaration of intent for peace just by the statement alone and the Peace Corp sounds hard but very rewarding, and make the tours short, 2weeks, a month so that people like me can go.
5. I love this one too, so many of us want to engage again somehow after 8 years of just checking out and hoping for the best, we knew we were in the shit when the war stared and has lasted this long, more shittier every day.
But we want to help. as demonstrated by your recommendations, bravo.
6. I love this Federal Blog idea also. CNN was reporting on this today so I think they may actually do it. If he really wants this to be a democracy again, he will because I really believe lots of us have an interest in what he does, I hope.
Hey, I am tryin to start a regular convo about these things and much more so please join my blog and check it out, I like your brain and think we should all work this out together!
November 17th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Kit, the economy is something we can all relate to,a goal set for that will capture everyone’s attention. Thanks for stopping.
November 17th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Jason, thanks for stopping by, your comment is a big area in which we need focus
November 17th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Charlie, thanks for stopping, I would love to see a fereral blog also, I will check you out
November 18th, 2008 at 9:56 am
He has a lot of issues to sort out, but im glad that he got elected. Have you heard book makers taking bets on his assasination, shocking.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
martin thanks for your comment. I hope the rumor you referred to is untrue
November 19th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Hi JD, I like the positive goals you see for Barak Obama. I think he’ll deliver a very inspiring inaugural speech as JFK did. By inspiring the nation, I think he’ll have great support for some of the changes he mentioned, such as health care, and helping the middle class more.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
hi Robyn, I agree he will give an incredible address, the day to day effort after the euporia from the change, needs to involve both parties working together. Thank you for you comment
November 20th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Obama can only help us change when we come ready to let go and move forward together.
It may not surprise you that the human brain literally works against change. Add to that, the fact that we are slow in catch new visions:-)
Great post and discussion all!
November 21st, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Ellen, thanks for the interesting insights to the brain. it makes sense that brain works against change. It makes these 8 steps even better advice for our next president.
November 24th, 2008 at 1:30 am
We need secondary schools to change, because we now have a nation full of broken schools and brainy teens!
Perhaps now we can see growth before we lose more bright teens to boredom. What do you think?
November 25th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Ellen, I think you are correct, many young students have given up hope, Black boys in cities like Baltimore and Detroit have unreal dropout rates. the infrastructure of the schools are a big visable opportunity, we also need to warn about drug use,fix unsafe neighborhoods with out police harrsement and elavate the visable status for good students, make them heros like the sport stars and the hiphoppers.Thanks for your comment, keep hope alive
November 25th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Great Post. Since Obama won.. There should be no more excuses for anyone!
November 25th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
TJ, thanks for the comment, I agree
December 4th, 2008 at 5:55 am
Great advice I would say. Very systematically put in. I hope Obama has already read this one!
December 5th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
John, thanks for stopping by. I am sure the Pres elect has his own change strategy, but it could include many of these steps.