You don't want just a yes man, says ex-US president
Leaders who surround themselves with 'yes-people' would make big mistakes, Barack Obama told participants of a leadership programme today.
According to the former US president, leaders also should not feel threatened by people who know more than them.
"This is another leadership lesson. I was good at surrounding myself with people who are willing to tell me when I was wrong, question my assumptions, or to say that I hadn't...
Leaders who surround themselves with "yes-people" would make big mistakes, Barack Obama told participants of a leadership programme today.
According to the former US president, leaders also should not feel threatened by people who know more than them.
"This is another leadership lesson. I was good at surrounding myself with people who are willing to tell me when I was wrong, question my assumptions, or to say that I hadn't thought something through.
"And if you don't have people in your organisations, your associates who you respect enough that they will tell you when they disagree with you, then you are doing yourself a disservice
"If all you have is yes-people all the time, (who) laughs at your jokes, say 'oh, yes, Mr president what a brilliant insight, you are fantastic', not only you are not going to improve, but you are going to make big mistakes," said Obama.
The Democratic politician, who served as the 44th US president, was speaking at the plenary session of the Obama Foundation programme titled "Leaders: Asia Pacific" in Kuala Lumpur today.
The programme gathers 200 emerging leaders from countries in the region for a one-year support and training initiative.
Leaders cannot be the ones solving every problem, he said, adding they should instead be the person who could identify those who can solve them.
That was why during his presidency from 2009 to 2017, Obama said he appointed smarter people than him in the government.
"I wasn't threatened by that because my job was to make sure I put the smartest possible people who knew more than me on various subjects, in positions where they could do the best good.
"And to make sure that I was setting the agenda, setting the course, the vision, but not thinking that I am an expert in everything.
"Mistake some people make in leadership is they think that, 'if something is not coming from my mouth, it makes me less of a leader'.
"You don't have to be the person who is solving every problem. You have to be the person who says 'that person really knows how to solve the problem, teach me how should I be doing this'."
Prioritise family over career
During the question-and-answer session, Obama also shared with participants his take on priorities in life.
This comes as he answered a question from the floor on how he balanced career with family life.
"I don't think there's a perfect formula," he said.
"I think it starts with recognising that on your death bed or let's say my death bed, I am confident that I would not remember all the bills I passed, the speeches I made, the big crowds.
"I would be thinking about holding hands with my daughters to the park and seeing them laugh. That is going to be the thing that lasts, that sticks.
"That is the thing that would give my life meaning, that bonded love I feel for them."
Obama then told a story when his second daughter, Natasha, whom he fondly referred to as Sasha, was diagnosed with meningitis when she was three-months-old.
He said his world was narrowed to that when that happened. Nothing else mattered to him.
"And honestly, I don't care how successful you are if your children or the people you love are in pain and are suffering and are having problems.
"That will overcome you."
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.