Introduction

A leader is a person who holds a superior position in an organization, field, community or even a state, and has the authority to exercise authority or control to his or her juniors, with the aim of achieving a given goal. A leader is the determinant of the success or failure of the organization. Leaders have numerous core functions such as making necessary decisions, developing and communicating the mission and vision of the organizations to the juniors, enhancing teamwork, creating possibilities, overcoming setbacks, contemplating the needs of his or her juniors among others (Bass, Ronald & Jay 43). However, in order to implement and achieve these core functions, managers must possess a number of chief virtues. This paper pays high attention to the reasons why President Barrack Obama is a good leader.

The form of leadership, actions and achievements that Obama has portrayed since when he was first elected as the president of the United States in 2008, ascertains that he possesses the qualities of a good leader. For example, Obama has good communication skills, which is one of the chief virtues of a good leader (Maxwell 4-26). This is revealed his way of delivering public speeches. That is; his statements are clear such that instances of ambiguity do not arise in his audience. Moreover, this communication virtue enables him to liaise with other iconic figures such as heads of states of other countries, in various forums that are aimed at promoting economic, security, environment and health sectors of the United States. These good communication skills might be one of the factors that contributed him to be elected and re-elected as a president, since it enables him to reach most audience, and motivate them to act (Andrews 6-14).

Consecutively, just as organizational managers are visionary and determined in achieving the organizational goals and objectives, so is Obama (Maxwell 4-26). He is committed to achieving the United States vision of continued economic growth through enhancing the quality and quantity of health care systems, infrastructure, security, and US as a global citizen. His new approach to politics has proclaimed a strategy of moving the country forward, more than his predecessors. Moreover, Obama has been continuously committed in forming a memorandum of understanding concerning trade with other international leaders, in order to provide markets for most of the produced goods, and this will in the long run contribute to higher rate of economic growth.

Moreover, a good leader is committed to inspiring or motivating his team to focus their delegated duties on the organizational vision and objectives (Maxwell 4-26). For example, team members are motivated through rewarding them, giving them bonuses, non-monetary awards and giving them some days off with the attempt of re-energizing them and raising their self-esteem in order to enhance their performances. This is the same way President Obama is to the United States citizens. His focus is turning what he wants into what is done. For example, he uses his platform as a world leader and his party`s (Republican) majority status in Congress to coax, persuade, collaborate and counsel others members of the Congress to deliver maximally (Andrews 6-14). For example, he convinced the members of the Congress to support the stimulus bill, which in the long run saved the US economy from collapsing. Consecutively, in one of his public speeches, Obama depicted that in order to enhance the growth of the economy; he must first strengthen the middle class of Americans. He ascertained his commitment in motivating the middle class through numerous undertakings. For example, he extended the health insurance to approximately four million middle-class children and then extended tax breaks middle-class families.

Additionally, president Obama recognizes the contribution and good work of various veterans in the United States. He frequently provides resources, increased benefits, funds, and job opportunities to various veterans in the U.S, for example, though he has never served in U.S armed Forces, has been a constantly considerate and responsible commander-in-chief. For example, he has been always conscious that the brave volunteers who sacrifice their life in serving in the military are daughters, sons, fathers and mothers, who require constant rewarding for their dedication. This is contrary to his predecessor, George Bush. Additionally, his ability to unite and sensitize all American states to be always united shows his commitment in creating teamwork (Andrews 6-14). It is presumed that, the racial discrimination, especially to the African-American has greatly narrowed during the leadership period of Barrack Obama.

In addition, President Obama is determined in creating and maintaining a culture of teamwork. He is aware that he cannot achieve without support or contribution from his juniors (Maxwell 4-26). For example, in order to be elected, he formulated a national network of organizers and constantly maintained his virtue of motivating his teams. Moreover, after being elected, he displayed his virtue of delegating that enabled him to create the best team that he would collaborate with in delivering his promises that were in his manifesto to the Americans. For example, he used a team-of-rivals strategy while he was selecting his cabinet, which he later gained high levels of engagement and support from them.

Furthermore, good leaders focus on the long-term survival of their organizations even after they retire or pass away. Due to this objective, most organizational leaders formulate and put in practice both short-term and long-term projects (Andrews 6-14). Similarly, President Obama is also concerned with the survival of the future generations. He employs and implements both short term and long term projects in order to cater for the needs of both current and the future generation. For example, he sensitizes constructors to put up durable infrastructures such as roads and apartments, his focus on minimizing climatic changes among others.

In addition, a good leader bestows a sense of humor to his team and different situations and with different implications (Maxwell 4-26). For example, when the morale of employees is low, a sense of humor or comic from organizational leaders can facilitate in instituting positive energy among employees. Moreover, the occasional crack of jokes from organizational leaders can enhance the relationship between employees and leaders as these comics stimulate discussion. This is the same way president Obama usually does in order to entertain the masses, especially after delivering his speech. For example, he once admitted having watched Kardashian pictures and some other alcohol-related jokes.

Consecutively, just as the way managers strive to create conducive working environments for their employees, so is president Obama (Andrews 6-14). He identifies areas that can distract Americans from their economic activities and attempts to eliminate them. For example, he is aware that external attacks contribute to numerous deaths, injuries and collapsing of the economic. This is among the reasons why he constantly promotes peace, and high condemns acts of terrorism. He authorized execution of Osama Bin Laden, since he was a threat to the economic growth of the United States. Moreover, he maintains equality between genders as a way of preventing the emergence of conflicts in the American society. This is evident in the way he has been signing numerous bills such as Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and Violence against Women Act, with the attempt of protecting women rights. He also displayed a virtue of justice by publicly supporting the gay marriage.

In addition, just as organizational leaders are role models to their junior, president Obama, is an instrumental role model to Americans (Andrews 6-14). For example, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, one of the special achievements that a person can win. This awarding sensitizes his fellow Americans to be co-exists peacefully, and to some extent be propagators of peace, for their own benefit and the benefit of their societies.

Conclusion

It is, therefore, evident that president Obama has depicted numerous leadership qualities and activities, which qualify him to be a perfect leader. Some of his leadership qualities include good communication skills, commitment, collaborating with others, determination, and a sense of humor among others. Moreover his actions such as motivating and recognizing the contribution of American veterans, enhancing equality for all, encouraging teamwork, and enhancing justice displays him as a good leader. However, it is the high time for American citizens to emulate the leadership virtues, activities and contribution of president Obama, in order to make America better than it is today.

Work cited

Andrews, Joseph. Barack Obama and Leadership: 10 Reasons the 44th President Squandered Unprecedented Goodwill. S.l.: Steward Publishing, 2012. Print.

Bass, Bernard M, Ronald E. Riggio, and Jay A. Conger. The Practice of Leadership: Developing the Next Generation of Leaders. San Francisco, Calif: Jossey-Bass, 2013. Internet resource.

Maxwell, John C. The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader: Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow. Nashville, Tenn: T. Nelson, 2007. Internet resource.