Obama admits his biggest mistake was poor communication
The president revealed he failed to tell stories that elicit purpose and optimism. Just like any good CEO, he realized there is power in storytelling.
Obama’s presumptive opponent in this fall’s election, Republican Mitt Romney, pounced on his remarks, saying, “Being president is not about telling stories. Being president is about leading, and President Obama has failed to lead.”
This is not a political article and what I’m about to say is not politically motivated. But Romney couldn’t be more wrong.
Yes, being president is about leading, but a big part of leadership is telling stories. Ronald Reagan knew it and that’s why he is still called “The Great Communicator.”
The most successful CEOs also know it. I once worked for a company in which the CEO was obsessed with telling stories because he knew their power in helping employees understand his vision for the company. And in business as well as in government, those without a vision are lost.
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