Team Building 101

And Barack Obama thought winning the election was tough.

Now he's got to choose the people who will largely run the country for the next four years, and his picks have to be good.

What qualities should Obama be looking for?  Let's make a short list:

• Loyalty.  I know this may sound extreme, but team members need to stand behind their leader. No petty politics or survivor-like behavior allowed.  Differences of opinion should be expected and open discussion encouraged, but once the President makes his decision, everyone needs to close ranks behind him.  If as a team member, you can't abide by a decision, then resign and write a book about it.

• Enthusiasm.  Leading a country is a hard job.  Long hours, little sleep, and lots of second guessing of every move you make.  And that's just the President.  His team will need to work even harder, to stay ahead of the curve and keep their boss well informed.  At times, they will just want to give up, quit and write a book.  Enthusiasm will keep them going, and they will need lots of it, along with plenty of coffee and sugary snacks.

•  Intelligence.  Members of the President's team should be among the best and brightest in government.  Not asking too much, you might think, but the President has to be realistic.  The very smartest people in our society won't take the job.  The smartest 'in government' will, and that's the best we can hope for. 

• Persistence.  One of the toughest jobs team members will face is dealing with congress and their not-so-silent partners, the lobbyists.  Just when you think you have an 'understanding', some lobbyist will mess things up and you will be back to square one.  Persistence - the fine art of getting up, dusting off, and trying again, is essential.

And

• Steadiness.  Team members will face at least four years (unless they quit and write that book) of relentless stress, often extreme.  Ordinary folk might crack like cheap vinyl and fail their President at the moment he needs them the most.  So the last, but not least, of qualities to consider is the emotional steadiness to weather the intense ups and downs of the job.  
  

So there you have it.  The short list of qualities that should be requirements when Barack Obama forms his team.  Of course, he should give some consideration to experience, but as we all know by now, that's not essential...