OBAMAMANIA EXPLAINED

The rising tide of the Obama campaign is undeniable. Supporters are so upbeat about his candidacy that they've been labeled fanatical like here and here. The campaign has even been called a cult.

There's a relatively simple explanation for this, and it has to do with leadership style, as gleaned from his past, and yes, his speeches.

I was once told something by a mentor of mine that I have adopted as one of the Essential Truths of Life: There are two types of leaders, "Bosses", and "Coaches". They exist in all fields, and I'm sure that you've experienced both -at least I hope so, but the truth is that the latter are few and far between.


Bosses

A boss is someone who leads toward their own ends. Those ends may or may not coincide with the goals of the company or the people below them. A boss never allows questioning, rather choosing a "do what I tell you because I tell you (or because that's why I pay you)" style. People work for a boss, but only because they have to, and they only put in as much time as they need to in order to get by. Employees don't really care about a boss -it's not that they necessarily hate him or her, it's just that they don't really feel that the boss cares for them or is at all interested in their situation so they're likewise disinterested in the boss.


Coaches

Contrast that with a coach. The term comes from the sports world, but doesn't just apply there. It is however best explained by sports analogy. In reality there are many sports teams who are coached by "bosses". Players will play for a boss, but only as much and as long as it advances them. But for a coach players will "walk over hot coals". They'll put in long hours and sacrifice their well being. Why? Because they know that the coach is only asking them to do something that in the aggregate or in the long run will benefit the whole team, not just the coach or the owners. They know the coach isn't requiring any level of sacrifice from any individual any more than any other or any more than the coach him or herself is giving. They know that the coach would never ask anything unreasonable or frivelous. That's not to say that the coach won't be hard-assed or tougher on some players than others, just that s/he'll not punish or criticize anyone who doesn't deserve it and won't do it except for the benefit of the team.

That kind of leadership inspires trust and when you trust someone you necessarily make yourself vulnerable, and that vulnerability naturally lends itself to an emotional outlet.

So to apply the above to Obama supporters: They (Ok, we) view him as a "coach". His background and past accomplishments indicate that he really does care for the state of the country and that he's willing to fight for principles and legislation that would benefit the whole country, not just his donors or constituents. It's in his words as well. When he speaks he says that it (in this case change for the better) won't be easy and will require sacrifice, but you don't get the feeling that he's not willing to sacrifice himself or to work as hard as he's asking others to do. For that matter, he's the only presidential candidate I've even heard of since JFK who's ever asked for any sacrifice from the American People for the common good. Usually those who talk about the common good are labeled communists (unless of course they're talking about defense). That by itself makes him unique.

The promise of that kind of leadership in a candidate for president is intoxicating. I don't know what an Obama presidency would actually be like, but if you want to know why people are so enthusiastic about his candidacy, that's why.