Every four years the United States elects a new President. The process isn’t simple, and it isn’t short.

Because this process plays out in the news media, and because it requires leadership both to gain the job and do the job, there are lessons from the process for the taking. These lessons, while taken directly from the 2008 campaign, are lessons that will be seen in every future (and many past) campaigns.

Consider this article as a first step in those lessons.

Create Opportunities for Communication

Perhaps more than ever, political candidates excel at finding opportunities to communicate their messages. It is in this communication that they attempt to define themselves and their messages and to mobilize support for their vision of the future.

Leaders have the need to do these same things.

While your scope and topics of conversation will be different, you have the same needs to define your organization’s future, to communicate your message, to mobilize your team for the organization’s goals, and more. Yet most all leaders fall short in communication. Consistently employee surveys show that communication is less than adequate in their organizations. This message seems to fall on deaf ears for too many leaders.

As a leader you must communicate more effectively, more consistently and more often. Use the lesson of the candidates: they never miss an opportunity to share their message with those they hope to lead.

How well do you measure up to their model?

Hone Your Messages

The political candidates work hard to hone their messages. They spend tremendous amounts of time crafting and crystallizing their key messages, philosophies and beliefs. They deliver those messages regularly (see the previous point about creating opportunities). The best (and ultimately most successful) candidates not only hone their message, but they don’t get tired of that message; they stay on point consistently for the long haul. They also have a team of handlers, strategists and speechwriters to help them and to give them the feedback they need to continue to improve.

You may not have have handlers, strategies and speechwriters. (Likely you aren’t giving 6 speeches, or more, most days either!) But, you need to do all of these things to have the maximum impact.

Are your main organizational messages clear and unwavering? Do people know the principles that guide you as a leader and the organization overall? Do you work hard to stay on message, and not move on to something new when you are tired of talking about the same initiative or project? And lastly, but just as important, are you getting, hearing and incorporating feedback from others to help you improve your communication skills?

Admitting Mistakes

Innovation will create some mistakes. When you are trying new things, not everything is going to work the first time (or at all). As a leader in organizations you must be willing to admit your mistakes. Why? Because if you don’t neither will anyone else.

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