Do You Want a CEO Like McCain or Obama?

•  
  the limority report10/07/08 Report as spam
  1

  RE: Do You Want a CEO Like McCain or Obama?

  nice piece --- finally, something (i.e., topic, article, etc.) objective and constructive, allowing readers to make their own conclusions! thank you!

•  
  profstephens10/07/08 Report as spam
  2

  RE: Do You Want a CEO Like McCain or Obama?

  One who has experience in analysis across a diverse array of opportunities, issues, and problems aids the development of their intuition. It is this informed intuition that many refer to as "gut" level decision-making.
  
  A leader with substantive experience is able to effectively utilize her/his intuition as a factor in judgment.
  
  In working with CEOs in different industries, I have found that those CEOs who utilize an informed intuition are better situational leaders.
  
  Effective situational leaders are needed at the helm in a changing global landscape as experienced by business organizations and governments today.

•  
  monicaoss@...10/07/08 Report as spam
  3

  RE: Do You Want a CEO Like McCain or Obama?

  I think that the best leadership style is someone who is capable of situational leadership -- and changing styles as the situation requires. Obviously, being able to 'go with your gut' is only good if you're in tune wiht the situation and have a command of the subject at hand (and perhaps experience wiht the subject at hand). But, a calm hand at the tiller with smart analysis is also an advantage.

•  
  DeniseCorc10/07/08 Report as spam
  4

  RE: Do You Want a CEO Like McCain or Obama?

  First, I don't see these 2 modes of decision making (Obama vs McCain) as a function of style but more a function of experience.
  
  Even the most analytical individuals will eventually develop intuitive instincts with experience. I see Obama's analytical decision making mode more a result of his insecurities (due to lack of experience) and more risk averse posture.
  
  For me the question I ask is less of which one would I want as a CEO, but rather "which one is more prepared to lead the country (or a company) given the volatile, unpredictable times?"
  
  While both candidates have their weaknesses and personality differences, I would always want someone experience above all else. If, hypothetically, I had a failing company and needed a CEO to turn it around, would I pick a seasoned CEO or a recent MBA graduate?
  
  That's basically the choice we need to make when we go to the voting booths in Nov. It scares me to think someone who has little leadership experience where the stakes are high could actually be running our country in the most troubled, unprecedented times the US has seen in many decades.
  
  I love Obama's idealism, his energy and ability to win a crowd, but it will take more than a nice smile and compelling rhetoric to convince me he is ready to take on the #1 leadership position in the world.

•  
  Drew6110/08/08 Report as spam
  5

  RE: Do You Want a CEO Like McCain or Obama?

  Although this is merely anecdotal, I've worked under certain leaders in my career where their experience actually proved to be detrimental to decision making.
  
  They had faced so many situations and found themselves weighing so many options that "analysis paralysis" set in, and when it came time for a decision, younger players on the management were able to make appropriate decisions more quickly.
  
  In other words, they didn't know they weren't supposed to do something, so they just went out and did it, usually with pretty good results.
  
  I'm not talking about shooting from the hip here, I'm talking about bright, thoughtful people who made up for their inexperience with the kind of creativity, flexibility and ingenuity those with deeper backgrounds often ignored for the "sure bet."
  
  Given the choice, I'll follow those who are innovative enough to sometimes ignore what experience dictates.

•  
  Geoffrey James, Sales Machine10/08/08 Report as spam
  6

  RE: Do You Want a CEO Like McCain or Obama?

  In the U.S., the President fulfills two very different roles: King and Prime Minister. In the "King" role, he leads the country through inspiration and the famous "bully pulpit". In the "Prime Minister" role, he works the levers of government to get things done.
  
  
  
  Great presidents (e.g. Reagan, Clinton) are good at both roles. Mediocre presidents are good at only one role (e.g. Nixon, Kennedy). Lousy presidents are good at neither role (e.g GW Bush, Carter).
  
  
  
  A CEO is (or should be) a "prime minister" only. When CEOs try to play the "King" role, they simply look pompous and stupid, like when Carly Fiorina introduced herself at a conference with a fireworks display.
  
  
  
  So we're actually looking for very different skill sets here. In an NPR interview just before he died, management guru Peter Drucker pointed out that companies need managers not leaders -- and that all the emphasis on "leadership" was just an excuse for egotism.
  
  
  
  McCain is clearly less of a "King" and more of a work-the-levers "Prime Minister" type. ("I reached across the aisle" etc.) By contrast, Obama has the "King" qualities down pat, but is basically unknown in terms "Prime Minister" qualities.
  
  
  
  
  Therefore, McCain would probably be a better bet as a CEO, based upon on his apparent strengths. However, when you look at his track record of decision-making, it's not clear whether he'd be a good CEO or a disastrous one -- only that he's got the basic personality for the job. Certainly you'd want his employment contract to stipulate that the Board of Directors (and not McCain) select a COO to run the company if he were incapacitated.

•  
  HenryT51610/08/08 Report as spam
  7

  RE: Do You Want a CEO Like McCain or Obama?

  To tell you the truth, I would not like either as a CEO, especially running the largest organization in the world. NO PRESIDENT has ever been a good, let alone great, at controlling and directing economics, business growth, controlled inflation or created jobs. Neither candiate has the intelligent or non-partisan advisors to do the right thing economically for this country or any organization. However, with that said, I would trust McCain more because his record shows better controlls on & of spending, less regualtions where needed and better oversight where needed. He has an ability to listen to many views and form a solid opinion. Senator Obama has never confronted or battled his party peers once in his entire career. This means someone else will be pulling the puppet strings. The only thing analyitcal about him is about his career and presitge.
  As you all know the Democratics, or Republicans, have never created a job or workable business manaegerial function since the beginning of our country's existence. Givernment only creates recycled taxpayers' funds by expanding the size of government. The greatest job sector created over the last 10-20 years has been the government sector, federal and state levels. These jobs consist of lifetime retirement benefits and healthcare which the private sector will be paying the bill forever with little or no return by those in government service, especially the politicians. Therefore government jobs produces greater tax burdens, larger deficits and little or no productive contribution to either GNP or GDP. As for Obama guiding us out of the present economic crisis, I would trust the local Mc Donalds Franchise Owner/Operator of his old Chicago neighborhood more than the rest of his political economical advisors. We are in some sorry shape over the next 8-12 years, or more. Good Luck to all!!

•  
  Michael Fitzgerald10/08/08 Report as spam
  8

  RE: Do You Want a CEO Like McCain or Obama?

  There's a lot to digest here. I'm going to start by
  following up on HenryT516. It's going to be hard for
  anybody to do much with the economy. I feel
  somewhat sorry for whoever gets elected. But in crisis,
  real change can occur in government (it's almost the
  only time it can happen).
  
  I'll also note that business skills don't necessarily
  translate well to the political world -- two of our most
  challenged presidents were Herbert Hoover, who was
  brilliant at business, and George W. Bush, who came in
  as the MBA CEO that was going to bring modern
  management to government (correct me if I'm wrong,
  but that was a promise in 2000, was it not?).
  
  Both of them, of course, faced situations that you
  could never pull out of a b-school case study. In the
  last recession, I worked for a very effective CEO who
  was rendered all but helpless in the face of the
  downturn.
  
  Let's not forget Harry 'the haberdasher' Truman, who
  has seen his stock rise in recent decades, after a long
  period of being seen as mediocre.
  
  Geoff James's comment on king vs. prime minister is
  thoughtful and on point.
  
  And it's absolutely true that experience does not
  always help, and can even hinder in a new
  environment. That's a staple of management writing -
  - that experience tends to make it difficult to see a
  new way to do something when it's needed. For that
  matter, the Structure of Scientific Revolutions makes
  the same point about scientific advances.