4 Powerful Reasons That Spotlight Why Michelle Obama Is a Genuine Leader

A journey from self-awareness to authentic leadership.

Some leaders prefer to show perfect calmness. Other leaders gravitate toward spontaneous of the cuff responses. Michelle Obama does both — frequently at the same time.

While touring to promote the memoir, Becoming, the former First Lady sat down with poet Elizabeth Alexander in front of a sold-out crowd in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. As the two of them spoke about the roadblocks to women’s equality and advancement, Obama spoke candidly about the failure of the “lean in” philosophy to make a meaningful difference for women.

“I tell women, that whole ‘you can have it all’ — nope, not at the same time; that’s a lie,” she said. “It’s not always enough to lean in, because that sh** doesn’t work all of the time.”

The audience burst out in cheers and laughter. They saw a distinguished person willing to speak the truth with humor, sincerity, and genuineness. Michelle Obama never swore in front of a jam-packed arena when she was First Lady, but her form of leadership communication embraced relatable topics people confront everyday.

She would make it a point to fill her speeches with personal stories about her life, work, and family.

“Your story is what you have, what you will always have,” she writes in Becoming. “It is something to own.”

People will wait to see if a leader is courageous before they are willing to follow them. Individuals need courage in their leaders. They want to observe someone who can make difficult decisions and remain cool under pressure.

Great leaders do these things knowing that the people they lead are more likely to show courage themselves when their leaders do the same.

Drawing upon inspiration from her ordinary beginnings, Michelle Obama uses her story to inspire others to lead. She offers us a roadmap for those who desire to rise out of places that lack privilege, direction, and advice.

With that in mind here are four instructive qualities that make Michelle Obama an exceptional leader.

Strong Self-Awareness.

“One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody says distract you from your goals.” — Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama has a keen understanding that leadership starts with self-mastery. Self-awareness is the ability to be mindful of your own emotions and reactions.

Being self aware means that you take a detailed look at your feelings, why you feel a certain way about something, and how your feelings could turn into positive or negative reactions.

Along with being aware of your own emotions, self-awareness involves a perceptive understanding of how you will respond to others.

When you refine your self-awareness capabilities, your capacity to become more empathetic will increase because of the expanded emotional intelligence that comes with self-awareness.

You will become more adaptable to changing situations and circumstances and improve your confidence. By being open about your flaws, needs, strengths and weaknesses, you will bolster your ability to be vulnerable.

Expressing vulnerability helps build stronger relationships and trust with the people that look to you for leadership.

Obama’s stories inspire people to boost their inner convictions, raise their aspirations about what can be achieved, and encourages them to work hard daily to accomplish their goals.

Self-Confidence to change directions.

“Over the years, I’ve become more confident in people’s ability to recognize a good thing.” — Michelle Obama

Leaders in our constantly changing world must learn how to adapt and evolve to be effective. There is more to life and success than checking off accomplishments on a predetermined template of goals and objectives.

While this can lead to some success, when innovation and creativity are needed to solve problems, the ability to veer in a different direction and navigate it successfully becomes a necessary and important skill.

Obama credits her husband with helping her learn how to do this.

Swerving is the art of going off of the expected path to find your own vision for your life and your future.

Swerving helped her identify a new way forward for her life that she could not have planned or visualized.

Achievement can occur in various ways. Sometimes tackling a big idea requires unconventional methods besides inspiration and imagination. Great leaders like Michelle Obama embrace moving in a completely new direction when circumstances require it.

Recognize your story has power.

“Your story is the most powerful part of who you are — the struggles, failures, successes, and everything in between. Remember to always stay open to new experiences and never let the doubters get in the way.”— Michelle Obama

A strong personal narrative can be the difference between an unmemorable leader and one with lasting impact.

Great leaders now that a well-told and engaging story is one of the best ways to connect with your audience.

Obama learned quickly that if she did not own and tell her story, someone else would tell it for her.

The same thing happens to leaders who are too busy to take a look at what is being said about them.

Owning your story means protecting your leadership from becoming misinterpreted, distorted or misunderstood.

Continue to Become.

“Becoming is never giving up on the idea that there’s more growing to be done.” — Michelle Obama

No one likes a dull or unimaginative leader . Obama said she chose Becoming as the title of her book because she hated the idea that journeys are finite.

She hated the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” To Obama growing up isn’t the end of the journey.

Leaders can gain a lot of value from this insight.

In the age of new technologies and the free flow of information, we no longer trust that there are guardians of authority, knowledge, and talent. We are learning as we go along.

Leaders who don’t accept or recognize this could appear disconnected from their environment. They may pretend to be an authority and come off as inauthentic.

Authenticity refers to being honest in not just what you say and do, but who you are. When you are authentic, your words and actions line up with who you claim to be.

Leaders who are authentic are unmistakable and transparent They aren’t perfect, but they earn people’s respect by walking their talk.

Michelle Obama understands that sharing her journey through life will not only help others walk along side of her, but assist people in creating their own path to a brighter and more fulfilling future.

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