Some of you may have had a strong response one way or another to my question about Obama yesterday.  I like how Bruce Avolio put it in his book, Full Leadership Development:

• “The true and most accurate  interpretation of leadership always rests in the ‘eye of the beholder’”

Leadership is socially constructed. It is in the eye of the beholder. What is “leader” in one person’s eye is “murderer” in anothers. I guess it depends on what side you are on.

History will tell, but it would seem (regardless of your politics) President Obama is on the cusp of this:

• “The five dimensions of authentic leadership: pursuing purpose with passion, practicing solid values, leading with heart, establishing connected relationships, demonstrating self-discipline. Authentic leaders are genuine people who are true to themselves and to what they believe. Rather than letting the expectations of others guide them, they are prepared to be their own person and go their own way. As they develop as authentic leaders they are more concerned about serving others than they are about their own success or recognition” (Bill George, Authentic Leadership).

In the face of skepticism, criticism and so forth it looks as though he is going for a vote. Politics as usual or authenticity? You decide…

Tiger Woods. Mark Sanford. Jeff Skilling. Larry Craig. Mark Foley. Eliot Spitzer. Bill Clinton. John Edwards. Jerry Fallwell. Bernie Madoff.

• “Know and control your appetites. These include the hunger for power, money, success and sex.” (Barbara Kellerman, Bad Leadership).

Research on optimism is an interesting thread that crosses over into the research on leadership/emotional intelligence. I stumbled across some cool resources and statistics.

• “Research has shown that optimists interpret both successes and failures differently than pessimists. Optimists for instance, do not take failures personally (it’s not their fault). They view failure as a temporary setback and only in this situation. On the other hand, pessimists make the opposite attributions – they take failures personally, as long lasting, and generalize to everything they do” (Avolio & Luthans, The High Impact Leader).
• Optimism’s cousin, happiness is examined here, in the piece developed by the BBC – The Happiness Formula.

Interesting findings from a study I came across while doing some research:

• “Our review shows that positive social interactions at work have both immediate and enduring effects on the cardiovascular system, in the form of lower HR and BP.” (Heaphy and Dutton, 2008, p. 143).
• “Studies suggest that positive connections strengthen the immune system during periods of acute and chronic stress.” (Heaphy and Dutton, 2008, p. 147).
• “Together, these five studies suggest that positive social interactions have beneficial effects on neuroendocrine functioning, either through the release of OT or through contributing to healthier diurnal cortisol response, and these effects, in turn, are associated with better physical health.” (Heaphy and Dutton, 2008, p. 147)

Stop reading this and go connect with freinds! – Scott J. Allen