What kind of leader is michelle obama

She has also been active in different leadership roles throughout her life, from being associate dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago, where she introduced a community service program, to launching the Let's Move campaign against childhood obesity as first lady.

In her speech at the Democratic Convention, which climaxed with a standing ovation, the first lady talked about wanting a leader who gives people hope. Despite this particular concept not being applicable to every situation communication specialists are confronted with , there are things to learn from the poised woman in regards to effective leadership.

Having achieved pop culture status Mrs Obama's behaviours and approaches can be analysed to enable a better understanding of the qualities leaders should aspire to themselves:.

Don't simply hold grand speeches, act upon them. Focusing on results, according to data by McKinsey, is an important leadership quality that can motivate employees to work with high work ethic. Just as Michelle Obama lives the healthy lifestyle she promotes, communication specialists and leaders need to prioritise leading by example. A leader who is relatable and amicable for employees will be more effective at fostering productive relationships, trust and feedback, a report by Forbes says.

People can identify with the challenges Mrs Obama, coming from a south Chicago family, overcame to reach her goals by working hard to become a lawyer. By inspiring young people to pursue the completion of their education post high school and aim higher, the first lady adds a personable touch. Setting aside the question of whether these particular women were or were not charismatic leaders, and setting aside the question of why fewer women have been charismatic leaders than men, and, finally, setting aside the question of what separates celebrity from charisma, we can say this: By definition, charismatic leaders have followers who are deeply convinced and passionately committed.

By definition, charismatic leaders inspire by who they are and what they convey. And by definition, charismatic leaders meet the moment — that is, they emerge when the time is somehow right, somehow ripe for the message they in particular seek to send. Among other reasons, for the moment she is constrained still by her role, that of First Lady.

But seeds are being sown. There is growing evidence that, like her husband, Michelle has a capacity to connect with constituents, both substantively and symbolically. There is growing evidence, in other words, that in the fullness of time Michelle Obama might just be a leader independent of her husband, and a charismatic one at that. Kennedy School of Government.

She is author and editor of many books and articles on leadership. You have 1 free article s left this month. You also need empathy and compassion in order to build healthy relationships within an organization. It will also help you earn the trust and respect of your employees — which is essential if you want to be an influential and inspiring leader.

Michelle Obama demonstrated her self-confidence in numerous ways. Whether it was her uplifting DNC inauguration speeches or championing courage and self-esteem for women , Michelle never shied away from standing up for what she believes in. That voice would later resonate with the hearts and minds of millions of people around the world.

While not everyone is as fortunate as Michelle to have had a strong support network growing up, the great thing about confidence is that it can be improved once you make the decision to do so and start appreciating who you are and what unique qualities you have to offer. But remember, it all starts with one thing… your choice to believe in yourself. Once you do, your capacity as a leader will rise ten fold. She had an amazing way of making people feel as if they were part of something bigger.

And she did it by relating her own experience. And when doing so, she never lost her cool. Many great accomplishments take a significant amount of time and hard work. As the saying goes:. She also achieved several important milestones while in the White House, such as passing a bipartisan School Lunch program to provide free and reduced-price meals to more than 20 million low-income children.

In , she also launched the Reach Higher Initiative to inspire young people across the country to put their education first. Even her life before becoming First Lady was filled with accomplishments that demonstrated her perseverance.

This included graduating cum laude from Princeton University before finishing up her law degree at Harvard.