I wasn't surprised to see Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign--dubbed "struggling" in September--wrap up the month with what pundits are calling her "Big October" and "best week of the campaign." After participating in the Democratic debate on Oct. 13, she emerged unscathed a week later despite being grilled for 11 hours by the House's Select Committee on Benghazi. Now many who wondered whether she could boost her poll numbers and provide more direction to her campaign are heralding the "inevitability" of her position as frontrunner, and maybe as president.
Putting politics to the side, when watching Hillary "do her thing," it's natural to feel awe and admiration for the way she commands a room under the highest stakes without breaking a sweat. No matter what level of leadership you've reached or to which you aspire, there is plenty to learn from Hillary's style. Here are a few of her best leadership traits to emulate:
- Turn adversity into resilience. Hillary's exceptional ability to overcome challenges is not new--in fact, her record shows that she clearly thrives under difficult circumstances. I wrote about this particular leadership quality back in 2010, in my book Leadership Secrets of Hillary Clinton, and this same insight holds true today. Five years ago, I wrote in The Washington Post: "What stands out about Hillary Clinton is her enormous capacity for resilience that has allowed her to effectively navigate through highs and lows in her life." That statement has stood the test of time, accurately reflecting her 2016 presidential bid's exciting turnaround. Despite numerous obstacles and meeting continued resistance from many Americans, Hillary is that resilient leader who doesn't cave in but fights back and emerges even stronger than before.
In short, Hillary's got something going for her in the 2016 campaign that she didn't have in 2008: she has figured out how to balance logic with emotion. It isn't just about being the smartest person for the job--it's also about letting people know that you are confident enough to share your true self with them. Being human and authentic was the missing piece--we'll see over the next year if completing the leadership puzzle is enough to win Hillary the presidency.