In the past few days, we have seen and heard a lot about the U.S. elections. And for good reason. Not only has history been made in America but people around the world are feeling something they perhaps have had little experience with of late. Hope. Of course, hope takes many forms and is born out of a variety of expectations but It sure feels good when it happens. And when it emanates from the words of one man, well, then it takes on a life of its own. Here’s a clip .
Some people will say that Barack Obama has charisma. Well he certainly has great drawing power. There can be no denying that. And if there are hopes being given out, my hope would be that he will prove to have more than a charismatic personality.
Charisma tends to burn bright and then burn out. And it has a dark side too. Adolph Hitler had charisma. So did The Reverand Jim Jones. Osama bin Laden has it too. All three have had a disasterous impact on humankind. Masses of people, at one time or another, have viewed them with awe, often blindly doing their bidding. These leaders are people who have fed on the hope of others to their own advantage and for their own glorification. Charisma gave them that opportunity.
So, my hope is that Barack Obama proves to be not only charismatic but transformational in his leadership of the American 
people, and that through his influence, the rest of world will seek to be transformed as well. Transformational leadership contains an element of charisma but is grounded in a set of high ideals, a solid work ethic and the expectation that all people have the capability to raise themselves up and through their own hard work, reach the higher ground.
Winston Churchill was a transformational leader. He had that same “Yes we can” mentality and during the second World War, it was he who gave the people of Britain the strength and the courage to fight against what must have seemed impossible odds. And to win. Not without sacrifice.
As I was listening to Mr Obama’s acceptance speech, I was also watching the faces of the people in the vast audience before him. Many had tears in their eyes. I wondered how many of those people were thinking that this man represented their own salvation; that he would change the things that weren’t going well for them and make it all better. I wondered too, how many of those people realized that if change is to happen, they will have to change too. How many of them will find it surprising when they are asked to make a concession or a sacrifice in order to make change real. And how many who were saying “yes, we can” then, will, when faced with difficulty say “no, we can’t”.
It all remains to be seen but Mr Obama strikes me as the kind of leader, and human being, who comes from a place of humility. And that’s a very good place to start.
Jim Collins, who wrote the book “Good to Great – Why Some Companies make the Leap and Others 
Don’t”, talks about his notion of “Level 5 leadership”. Level 5 leadership is basically characterized by a combination of professional will and personal humility. It is a rare and somewhat paradoxical coupling that when applied, creates an environment of possibility. It settles for nothing other than that which will lead to progress and accomplishment. I see great potential for that in the new President-elect of the United States.
In his first official press conference as President-in-waiting, Mr Obama talked about the all- important shopping trip he would be taking with his daughters to find a dog to take with them to the White 
House. He said that because one of his children was allergic to animal dander, they would have to be very selective about their choice. He said too, that if his daughter was not sensitive in this way, he would prefer to go to the pound and pick out, “A mutt like me” .
In my observation, mutts tend to be strong and very resourceful with cheerful dispositions, unwavering loyalty and unbreakable tenacity. Pure breds might have charisma but are more often simply crazy. Given a choice, I think I’d take the mutt.
Just for fun, check out the Barack Obama music video here.
Prissyperfection 