The First Measure of a Great Leader: Picking People Better than One's Self

Although predictable, McCain's reaction to the Biden choice shows that McCain himself is really a complete idiot. Ditto for all the analysts.

It is as if no one has ever run a complex organization before -- hey, maybe that's it!

Critiquing Obama for choosing someone who is "better" than he is on certain matters (foreign policy knowledge, levers of government, etc) shows the shallowness and lack of patriotism (yes, a patriot should want the best for the country) of the McCain campaign.

Any expert will tell you that the key measure of a leader is the people he/she picks to have around them. A great leader picks people better than himself, and gains their respect and loyalty of such people.

I have been the CEO of three companies. I was extremely fortunate to have people far more skilled than me at each aspect of the business working for the company. Every day I thanked my lucky stars that they were there. When someone left, as occurs in life, and I had to step in and take over the role until we found a replacement, it became even more apparent how lucky one is to have more highly skilled people working for you. Actually, "you" is the wrong statement -- we were all working together for the company.

My major criterion in selecting people, however, became high emotional intelligence. I did not appreciate the importance of this attribute early in my tenure, but it soon became evident that there are many skilled people, but many are stunted by various psychological needs that reduces their effectiveness as managers and team players. For example, insecurities lead to unapproachability that in turn may lead to keeping negative information from surfacing early -- exactly the opposite of what the organization needs.

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Both Obama and Biden have demonstrated high emotional intelligence. Obama just by choosing a person of such gravitas demonstrates his inner confidence. Obama knows that Biden is blunt, unafraid to surface the negative.

Obama has absorbed the slings-and-arrows of multiple insults and slights with a greatest of dignity. Obama is also highly committed to his cause, but gives no impression that his life will be over if he had lost. That provides Obama balance, another facet of emotional intelligence.

It is well-known that early in the Bush presidency, Biden went to Bush saying, in essence, "I know a lot, I've been around, I'm happy to come by and let you have all my thoughts and ideas, that you can use as you choose". That's not only high emotional intelligence (being willing to help the opponent), it is also the highest patriotism.

It is just one measure of Bush's low emotional intelligence that he did not accept Biden's offer.

I realize this is plea is in vain, as it is always more "exciting" for the MSM to criticize than to praise.

But, here's the bottom-line: criticizing Obama as showing weakness for picking someone better than him in certain aspects of government conveys only that you are complete idiots.

Comments

[undecidee]

Spot on.

EQ is always better than IQ and Obama is blessed for having a lot of both. There are not many who are as blessed. Many businessmen and women have high EQ and even though they never got a BA or MA degree , they manage to sale their products or themselves and climb up the ladder of success.

I believe he made a great choice in Biden. I like Hillary, but, I don't want Bill in the WH again because there were too much drama the last time and I am afraid that he might pull her down if she was a president.

I think that Obama's VP selection committee did a phenomenal job in screening possible running mates for him.

[rhondadavis28]

Fired up and ready to go here in Pa.
Senator Joe Biden - perfect running mate! WHY?
Joe Biden doesn't lie-no "gas gimmick"
Biden has used his time in the Senate to immerse himself in foreign policy. .
Joe understands that what he is doing is not about him. He values family, religion, and service to others above self-promotion. Biden respects the law. We can certainly not say that about the current holder of the office.
Biden has proven that he will not shirk away from a good fight. John McCain, though a personal friend of his, better be ready to feel the full brunt of Joe Biden's anger should he continue to lie about Barack Obama.
Barack Obama has shown in his first important decision as the Democratic Presidential Nominee that he understands what is most needed in a running mate. He has picked someone who could fill the most important job in the world well, if needed.
Sometimes, wisdom is shown in the decisions we make. Barack Obama has shown his wisdom this weekend, very well indeed

[rhondadavis28]

Fired up and ready to go here in Pa.
Senator Joe Biden - perfect running mate! WHY?
Joe Biden doesn't lie-no "gas gimmick"
Biden has used his time in the Senate to immerse himself in foreign policy. .
Joe understands that what he is doing is not about him. He values family, religion, and service to others above self-promotion. Biden respects the law. We can certainly not say that about the current holder of the office.
Biden has proven that he will not shirk away from a good fight. John McCain, though a personal friend of his, better be ready to feel the full brunt of Joe Biden's anger should he continue to lie about Barack Obama.
Barack Obama has shown in his first important decision as the Democratic Presidential Nominee that he understands what is most needed in a running mate. He has picked someone who could fill the most important job in the world well, if needed.
Sometimes, wisdom is shown in the decisions we make. Barack Obama has shown his wisdom this weekend, very well indeed

[Pupadup4oBama]

Paul, I don't believe your post is in vain.
The people who don't get it aren't willing to get it in the first place. The rally yesterday showed how much people are behind this ticket. I think I've seen more positive posts and comments on this site than negative.
This is a winning team...they complement each other well and their strengths will play off each other very well.

[obac]

Doesn't anyone remember Cheney?

[Legacy]

Fabulously said........Bravo!

[GoodGuysandBadGuys]

nice post, you are exactly right.

[richdoll]

mccain is a type of person who knows everything and knows nothing = like a child when you tell them something the first thing a child says "i know" is a sign of ignorance. it means the mind is not open to new ideas and exploration. this country needs to go forward and not backwards. i respect a leader who will listen to others for a sound decision and surrounds himself with experts it reflects good jugdement. that's more important than experience, that lacks room for growth. this is the 21 century and the world is evolving in order for this country to be progressive we need a leader like obama.

[jferguson]

Paul,
Your observations are spot-on. It's also obvious that very few people understand the value of being challenged when you've fallen in love with some idea that isn't really a very good one. I've found all too often that some scheme of mine which I thought was brilliant wasn't seen that way by everyone else, and in fact wasn't. It's good to have people around to tell you you're nuts when you are, or maybe even when you aren't.

I thought that the report of Hillary chastising her staff for their silence on the phone after her Iowa debacle was very revealing - revealing of a very shallow relationship among them. Sh should have been explaining it to them.

Even with multiple reports of organizational malpractice from her campaign, there are still people olut there who think she should be president, if not now, then someday.

This suggests that a lot of what gets done in the US doesn't involve people who understand how organizations need to work.

[KiwisCanFly]

You're opinion is right on point, Paul Abrams. Thank u for articulating so well what many have missed.
Our MSM is a disappointment.

Obama is self possessed and chose the best person for the job. He did good.
I find Biden's bluntness appealing.

Both men on the ticket excite me and give me a sense of relief.

[KNadine]

MSM more than a disappointment - they border on criminal.

[NeoLiberal]

Having the self-awareness to select a veep candidate who can be stronger in places you are not shows high character, depth of intellect and strength of leadership.

A good leader surrounds him/herself with people who are tactically superior, so that the leader can exercise his/her strategic strengths and broader visions to the fullest.

Just look at those who surround JMc...or for that matter, W...

[Berliner2]

Right on. Remember, this was also Abraham Lincoln's signal strength. It is of course symbolic that Obama would introduce Joe Biden at a rally in Springfield, Illinois. Another lanky lawyer from Illinois on the march.

[booksnmore4you]

Completely spot on.

The know-it-all and do-it-all style of leadership is the WORST kind under the sun!!

[Daisy1111]

So I guess now foreign policy is the VP's job?

[booksnmore4you]

No, but one cannot be a know-it-all and do-it-all.

Well, they can try but will fail. No executive of excellence is an island or one-man show.

[NeoLiberal]

Remember, the VP is also President of the Senate, influential over legislation and a tie-breaking vote. Biden is a master in that chamber.

[KiwisCanFly]

Daisy1111

I have noticed that Obama 's ideas concerning foreign policy have (eventually, after much bluster and criticism) been endorsed by the present administration.
Check for yourself: Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq timetable, talking with Iran.

[wanttruth]

Good column. I agree.