Today is Election Day in the U.S., and soon enough we will know who our next POTUS will be. We are all a little exhausted and burnt out from this nasty presidential campaign, but rest assured, this post isn’t about politics or who you should vote for. This post is for you as a leader.
While you will likely never have your every move reported on TV, never have your tax returns a matter of public record, and never seek an office like the Presidency, there are lessons you can learn from the campaign and election. Whether you lean left or right, whether you consider yourself a political junkie or nearly apathetic, I want to you to reflect on this election and draw these seven lessons.
Communication is most important
The candidates, their spouses and their spokespeople all showed different communication styles, adjusting their words, rhetoric, and tone based on the audience, the situation, and the context. Both candidates have a vision, a philosophy and particular strategies in mind, but none of it matters if they didn’t effectively communicate it during the course of the election.
As a leader, how you communicate is supremely important. You must think about your communication strengths and your style and how both impact how people receive and understand your message. Learn to read the room, and be ready and willing to adjust your style to ensure people receive the message you intend for them to receive. Also understand that the best strategy in the world won’t make any difference if you can’t communicate it effectively. Make sure you don’t skimp on planning how you will communicate your strategy.
Likability matters (more than you might think)
We all vote based on the approaches, philosophies and plans of the candidates, right? Not so much. People tend to want to be led by people they like and trust, and that drives their vote. You will be a more effective leader when your employees find you likable and trustworthy. Definitely establish goals and plan to reach them, but make sure that you are approachable, respectful and authentic if you want people to buy in.
The right team makes a difference
No leader can do it alone, and both candidates have a big team supporting them that makes decisions, takes actions or shares opinions that have been critical to the campaign. Do you have a complete and effective team around you that helps you? Or is your team limiting you and putting you at risk to fail?
You must be flexible and adaptable
The candidates used current events, polling data and more to alter their campaign plans, adjust their speeches and more. Are you willing (and able) to adjust your plans and be flexible when the situation dictates it? What data or resources are you relying on to guide your decisions and plans? Don’t become so fixated on a plan or so rigid in your thinking that you miss new opportunities or stick to a strategy that is doomed for failure. Always be looking for new information and different perspectives, and adjust accordingly.
I don’t have a crystal ball, and I don’t know exactly what is going to happen today, but I do know that so far, the campaign has offered us many lessons on how to lead (and how not to lead). Going forward, I can only hope that both the winner and loser use their power and celebrity to set leadership examples we can all look up to.
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