05/11/06: Time for the President to get juiced?

Jack Welch for President!

Welch’s credentials may not qualify him to be President of the United States, but he served General Electric for many years with plenty of success. Last year he wrote a book on leadership which should not be forgotten. Whether it be in the White House or the Congress, we have leadership problems.

Here are the key suggestions offered by Welch in his book. Time for all of us to get “juiced.”


#1 LEADERS RELENTLESSLY UPGRADE THEIR TEAM, USING EVERY ENCOUNTER AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE, COACH AND BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE.

#2 LEADERS MAKE SURE PEOPLE NOT ONLY SEE THE VISION, THEY LIVE AND BREATHE IT.

#3 LEADERS GET INTO EVERYONE'S SKIN, EXUDING POSITIVE ENERGY AND OPTIMISM.

#4 LEADERS ESTABLISH TRUST WITH CANDOR, TRANSPARENCY AND CREDIT.

#5 LEADERS HAVE THE COURAGE TO MAKE UNPOPULAR DECISIONS AND GUT CALLS.

#6 LEADERS PROBE AND PUSH WITH A CURIOSITY THAT BORDERS ON SKEPTICISM, MAKING SURE THEIR QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED WITH ACTION.

#7 LEADERS INSPIRE RISK TAKING AND LEARNING BY SETTING THE EXAMPLE.

#8 LEADERS CELEBRATE.

(See Welch, Jack. “How to Be a Good Leader,” 2005)

Which of these do you think our President needs to work on most? How would you counsel our Congress to utilize these suggestions in order to direct positive public policy?