NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - February 5, 2009) - Perhaps President Barack Obama can help save
the economy in more ways than one: By following his leadership example,
employees at all levels will be able to communicate better, lead better,
and be more valuable to bosses and colleagues -- all of which may help save
their jobs.
"To protect your job -- or jump-start your career -- try to 'Obamafy' it,"
says
Jodi Glickman Brown, founder of Great on the Job, which helps
top-tier financial firms and other corporate employers turn their young
professionals into better communicators and more valuable employees.
"President Obama may have the most powerful job in the world -- but the way
he conducts himself provides important lessons that can be used by workers
at any level -- whether they're trying to accelerate their careers or hang
onto the job they have now," Ms. Glickman Brown says.
Ms. Glickman Brown is available to discuss far-reaching lessons from
President Obama's communication and leadership styles. For instance...
- Be generous -- turn negatives into positives. "The President
could have 'gone negative' when Chief Justice Roberts flubbed the oath of
office," Ms. Glickman Brown says. "Instead, he said he was the one who'd
messed up -- and made the Chief Justice look better. That engendered good
will that the president can use later on."
- Acknowledge mistakes. "Obama isn't threatened by mistakes. When
Senator Daschle withdrew his nomination to be Secretary of Health and Human
Services over a tax controversy, the president said on national TV that 'I
screwed up.' Whatever actually happened, he took the blame. Time and
again Obama acknowledges that he and his team will make mistakes -- but he
promises to learn from them. That's a leadership attitude that is valued
by bosses and by subordinates."
- Make it all about the team. "Obama elevates other people," Ms.
Glickman Brown says. "Watch how often he deflects attention from himself
to his staff -- saying things like 'I need the help of these smart people.'
A great leader shares the credit and deflects the blame onto himself if
necessary."
- Ask for help without sounding dumb. "When the president
introduced Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, he made it a point to say
that he needed her help. He was able to cite her experience without
diminishing his own leadership. Asking for help strategically can actually
make you look smarter," says Ms. Glickman Brown.
- Personalize it. "Like the best politicians, Obama is able to
make personal connections. When he spoke to soldiers in Afghanistan at one
of the Inaugural balls, he addressed each one in turn and asked the
all-important question for any Chicagoan -- Cubs or White Sox? When you
work with teams, you need to make the same kind of connections with every
member."
"The president stands out not only for his political talent, but because he
knows how to share credit, accept blame, be self-deprecating, talk straight
and make sure that both senior and junior colleagues stand out," Ms.
Glickman Brown says. "Whether you're a senior executive, a manager or an
intern, you can learn lessons from Mr. Obama that will make you more
valuable on the job."
For more information or to schedule an interview, contact Itay Engelman
of Sommerfield Communications at (212) 255-8386 or
Itay@sommerfield.com.
About Jodi Glickman Brown
Jodi Glickman Brown is President of Great on the Job, a career consulting
firm that advises workers how to use communication and workplace skills to
stand out under any conditions. Her clients include major Wall Street
firms, top-tier business schools and universities. A former investment
banker at Goldman, Sachs & Co, she is the author of the forthcoming book,
"Great on the Job: Communication Strategies for Navigating the Workplace."
For more information, visit
www.greatonthejob.com.
Contact Information: Contact:
Itay Engelman
Sommerfield Communications, Inc.
212-255-8386
itay@sommerfield.com