Business Leaders - Ignore at your Peril the Lessons of "The Brand Called Obama"

Often times leaders want to know, how do I communicate my message and initiatives in a way that will activate Xers and Millennials wholehearted participation?

The April 2008 Fast Company article "The Brand Called Obama" by Ellen McGirt illuminates how Obama has employeed inclusive rhetoric, authentic calls to action, and leveraged social media tools to connect with the younger generations in their generation style.

McGirt asserts, "The promotion of the brand called Obama is a case study of where the American marketplace-and, potentially, the global one - is moving."

Whether you agree politically with the platform and policies of Barack Obama, as a manager, leader or co-worker in today's marketplace you will be impacted by the bar of expectation he is setting for today and tomorrow's leaders.

Craig Newmark, the Founder of Craigslist captures the essence of Obama's use of a new way of thinking called "adaptive leadership," by saying "I see him as a leader rather than a boss." A leader, he notes, gets people to do things on their own, through inspiration, respect, and trust. "A boss can order you to do things, sure, but you do them because it's part of the contract."

Take a moment to check out this article. Whether Barack Obama wins his party's nomination, a difference has been made in the leadership and business landscape that Americans will be feeling for years to come.