Type and Leadership - an Analysis of Barack Obama
posted by agammy
Hopefully, no matter what side of the fence you were on during election season, you felt exited and proud today as the 44th president was sworn into office - I know I did. As an ENTP, nothing gets me going like change, and I was so excited about the idea of new leadership that I almost took the day off to celebrate. . . Almost.
As I watched the Inaugural on tv, I found myself wondering - what kind of leader will Obama be? Will he be an inspired crusader? A nimble pragmatist? A responsible Executor? I looked around online, and realized there were a plethora of websites that discussed Obama’s MBTI type, and the implications that his presidency would have for the country. (Here is one professional’s opinion, and here is a whole discussion devoted to the topic.) Unfortunately, since Barack Obama has not actually taken the MBTI assessment, all we can do is speculate.
Based on my own research, here are my top 3 guesses:
INTP
ENTP
ENFP
These 3 types can look very similar, but will have slightly different challenges to overcome. As I looked into the issue, I found that the only preference experts agree on for Obama is the “N” for intuitive - I agree - he is clearly an “N.”Based on the fact that Obama likes to incorporate as many factors and opinions into decisions as possible, and is extremely flexible and open to change, I think he is a “P.”I am on the fence about “F” and “T” - he has many of the qualities of a “feeler,” including a deep concern for and ability to relate to people–but his ability to argue dispassionately and collected demeanor could also suggest he has a preference for “thinking.” Lastly, the “E” and “I” - counter to popular opinion, there have been a lot of strong”I” leaders (Abraham Lincoln is one that comes to mind) and Obama might be one of them - he is an excellent writer and often pauses before speaking to collect his thoughts. Then again, Obama is excellent at answering questions “off-the-cuff,” and has a charisma that suggests he could be an extrovert. In conclusion, it’s hard to narrow it down to just one type (unless Obama every takes the MBTI, only time will tell.)
You might ask - so what? When it comes to leadership, does type matter?
Yes and no. Anyone can be an excellent leader, but as I mentioned before, different leaders have different challenges. I thought I would take a look at CPP’s newest book, Type and Leadership, to pull together some recommendations for Obama, based on type.
INTP: Expansive Analyzers (5.7% of leaders)
INTP leaders have a clear understanding of the current system, and can conceive a vision of the future that is based on it. They are at their best when exploring and analyzing alternative choices, and can often inspire others by conveying the elegance of an idea. They are extremely collegiate, egalitarian, and open to process innovations, and welcome diverse views and perspectives. As an INTP leader, Obama will search out the most capable people to accomplish a task (despite political affiliation) and be thoroughly commited to the task at hand.
If he is an INTP, Obama may have to work harder to explain his theoretical ideas in plain language, and always be sure to take into account the practical restraints of today (INTPs have a tendency to overlook the practicalities in the search for an elegant solution.) He may be critical of those who he perceives to be incompetant, and will have to work hard at times to make sure he doesn’t seem arrogant. He may also struggle with patience, wanting to see the results of his efforts sooner, rather than later.
ENTP: Innovative Explorers (8.3% of leaders)
ENTP leaders can envision the future easily, and create a broad, holistic view of what needs to be accomplished. They see opportunities instead of problems, and can generate many possible solutions with logical analysis of each solution. They also possess and communicate energy and enthusiasm, rallying others to meet the challenge. If Obama is an ENTP, he will benefit from his natural ability to discern what motivates others, using that information to influence behavior.
ENTP leaders face challenges when they entertain too many options or get ahead of others with ideas, which can come across as wheel-spinning to some. They also have the tendency to be too vague about the details of an execution plan for the comfort of some, and can overcomplicate the direction. Lastly, an ENTP can take multitasking to the extreme, and should realize that implementation can be a process, and that sometimes they need to focus on one thing at a time.
ENFP: Impassioned Catalyst (6.5% of leaders)
ENFP leaders are great at creating visionary or idealistic goals, and can brainstorm and realize multiple visions. They welcome others’ ideas and input about future priorities, and spend lots of time trying to understand collegues. They excel at sharing authority and spreading accountability, and can usually find creative ways around barriers that others miss.
If Obama is an ENFP, he will have to fight his tendency to assume that other people are motivated by vision alone, and make sure that he can ground his visions with data. He can’t hesistate to give critical feedback or bad news (although he may want to) and he can not become immobilized by the sheer volume of details his new position will bring.
So, in a short summarized version, here are some tips for the new president. I’d be curious to know what you readers think about this - what type do you think our new president is, and why?
And of course, a word to Obama - if you need any more tips - don’t hesitate to contact me!
