Management: January 2009 Archives
Questions to Stir the Heart
By Dr. Edwin Weaver
January 21, 2009
As an American, I am so very happy to the people starting to unite. For decades, we have become more and more splintered, everyone going in their own direction, pulling the nation apart. President Obama's charisma has pulled the people together again, but for how long.
Leaders, true leaders, must challenge the people. They must move people from where they are to a new place, a new level. Charisma, by itself, will not move the people to the next level. Yes, it does have the effect, often temporary, of pulling people together, but more is needed. The heart must be stirred and inflamed.
Nothing stirs the heart like probing questions, reflective questions, innovative questions. The leader not only asks these questions, but also gives us answers to them, the answers we need to follow. That is what all the great leaders have done to move the people from the pulling together stage to the action stage.
I was watching for President Obama to do this at his inauguration; however, he only asked one question. He made many statements, but only one question.
Review some of our great leaders, Washington, Lincoln, and Kennedy. They asked questions of the people, heart stirring questions, reflective questions, innovative questions. They also gave the answers, answers, which pointed in the direction in which the people needed to go.
To unite Americans, move them into a new and better
That is why the questions are important for a leader. Without the questions to stir the people, they will loose the motivation, which was ignited by the charisma. The questions keep the direction alive. The questions keep the motivation alive. The questions provide the reason to continue. The questions stir our hearts.
The hopes of
Charisma and Show, But is Obama a Leader
By Dr. Edwin Weaver
January 19, 2009
No one would doubt that Mr. Obama is charismatic. He has a strong appeal factor working for him. He is good at words and knows how to put on a show. His trip to
I am not a pessimist, but each day I doubt him a little more. Charisma is not everything. Yes, it helps a leader. In fact you really can not be a leader unless you have a certain amount of charisma, but you need more.
There are 10 main points to be a good leaders and I am wondering if Mr. Obama will stack up. My doubts really started to surface when he backed down on a fight with congress on, what I considered, a vital part of the stimulus plan.
If you remember, Mr. Obama proposed to give a tax credit to companies which retained present workers and a larger credit if they hire new employees over and above the replacement of exiting employees. This would have done wonders for the economy and for the morale of the people, but congress said no we don't want it and Mr. Obama cut it out of the package, without a fight.
A leader has to be prepared to fight when the fight is worthwhile and this was a worthwhile fight. Keeping Americans working is more important that protecting the profits of huge dinosaur corporations.
You will say that if the big corporations and the banks go under there will be no jobs. Yes and No! The government has already set a precedence of taking over institutions and could step in and take control of the failing corporations. As for the banks, their greed led to their downfall and now the government wants to protect their greed.
Let's face it, if the banks failed who would get hurt? Only the big guys! 83% of Americans (the average American) do not have over $100,000 in any one account. Therefore they would not lose one dime. The government would give them their money back, only the big guys would lose, the same big guys who, through their greed, caused this mess. Mr. Obama should have fought congress to keep Americans working.
In other words, keeping the average American working instead of protecting big money is a battle worth fighting for and Mr. Obama did not take the challenge, he caved in to congress and their desire to protect big money. That makes me think that he lacks two of the essential points to be a good leader; concern for the people and willing to fight when it is necessary.
Only time will tell if Mr. Obama is a true leader or just another silver tongued politician. Good luck Mr. Obama.
While Rome
By Dr. Edwin Weaver
January 13, 2009
As with Nero fiddling while
I believe that everyone is well aware that we are in a depression. Yes, the
They could have stopped this problem long before it got started, but like the others in the banking and corporate world, they were enjoying the ride (hoping it would not end while they were around). Now we have a problem.
Very simply, the problem is that people are losing jobs because the economy is depressed. As people lose jobs, less is spent and more people lose their jobs and the spiral continues.
Solution -
1) Keep us working in our present jobs. Provide us with some security. If we feel secure, we will spend again. If we spend we start the economy on the road to recover.
2) Get the people who have been unemployed working. It will take 6 months to 2 years for the psychological scars to heal, but as soon as they do, these people will start spending, improving the economy
3) Keep the banks afloat so the people do not panic. Then as spending starts, get the banks to start loaning again.
It will take some GOOD administrators watching over everything, not like they have with TARP. If some good people are placed in charge, there is hope.
While people are being kept in their jobs and new jobs created, congress can argue on how to prevent this from happening again, but at this minute they need to serve the people who elected them.
We need a closer watch on the financial institution and the corporate world. it may sound like Big Brother, but those who have been in charge have proven they can not be trusted. Even with a big brother system, those who do the correct thing do not have to worry. The only ones who worry about someone looking over their shoulder are the one who are doing what is right. Then we should start to get back on track again. Hopefully the right track this time.
Dear President Elect, What do Economists Know?
By Dr. Edwin Weaver
January 3, 2009
Today President Elect Obama said, "Economists from across the political spectrum agree that if we don't act swiftly and boldly, we could see a much deeper economic downturn that could lead to double-digit unemployment and the American dream slipping further and further out of reach," (AP News on Yahoo. Com http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090103/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama ) This was in reference to creating new jobs.
Creating jobs will help, but the psychological effect of losing one's job demoralizes. Have you ever lost your job? It hurts. It takes months, years to fully recover from losing one's job.
I have worked for Rescue missions and other organizations which help the needy and homeless. I have seen men, women and families hit hard times. It demoralizes them completely. Even after they got work it would take months, even years before they started to get back to normalcy.
Yes Mr. Obama, you may create jobs and the person may be working again, but they are still demoralized and will not return to their old habits until they have fully recuperated from the stigma. That means they will not return to their old spending habits for quite some time, which also means a long recovery from this recession.
I have watched these people. I have worked with them. They did not want to spend money for fear of what might happen. They bought only what was absolutely necessary. They feared going back to the streets again. Their self esteem was destroyed and it took time before they felt confident that they could succeed again.
Dear Mr. President Elect, a great leader worries about the people, not only that they are working and that they have food and money, but the great leader worries about their morale also. Their moral is the highest concern.
Economists know about numbers, not people and feelings, that is why economists are not leaders. President elect Obama, you know that it is the people who will make or break this recession. Mr. President, you must focus on keeping the people working at their present jobs. Keep them from falling into a demoralized state which will hurt the recovery of the country.
I am not an economist, but I know people. I have worked with and helped people for over 30 years. Mr. President Elect, you need some people on your team who know the common man and how he/she thinks and feels. If you want our country to recover soon, keep the people working in their current jobs and create jobs for those who are out of work. You will kill two birds with one stone.
You will keep the income taxes coming in from those who are still employed. You will keep their morale up and their spending up, which will help to create new jobs. You will put the unemployed to work giving them a little hope. Between the enthusiasm and the spirit of those who are still working and the chance at a new position by those who are unemployed, the country will take on a new hope. With your charisma leading them, they will pull together to make a new
However, if you let the people become unemployed, they will lose hope. Even your charisma will not excite them. The road to recovery will be long and hard.
Best regards and best of luck
Dr. Edwin Weaver
