"Yes We Can" — Brought to you by "We The People"

In carrying out this vision, he must mobilize Congress to identify problems, adopt a collaborative attitude, use facilitative behaviors, and apply strategic thinking to solve them.

I'm certainly not alone in reflecting on how much Tuesday’s election was a defining, galvanizing moment in American history — and in the perception of the United States around the world.

Barack Obama's victory goes beyond a big win in the popular vote and in the Electoral College. Just how big his win is to people is best seen in the raw emotions pouring out of people in ever corner of the country — folks of every race, creed, and religion. Even his opponent, John McCain, paid extensive and eloquent tribute to the significance of Obama's victory for the country, and for African-Americans in particular. As some pundits have observed, 2008 is sure to go down as one of America's great transformative elections.

But I'm drawn to the question: Why is his victory so powerful? Among the many significant reasons, there’s this: In huge and unprecedented numbers, America has chosen a message of hope, change, and inclusion — one so powerfully embodied over the past two years in the simple Obama rallying cry, "Yes We Can."

What's at the very core of "Yes We Can?" Historians one day are sure to help us see that "Yes We Can" is rooted firmly in a proud American political tradition as espoused by our Founding Fathers — the notion of "We The People." And, by a resounding majority this Election Day, the people have passionately and unquestionably embraced a new direction, with the assumption that peaceful, productive change is possible with bold, clear, and honest leadership.

President-elect Obama promises a new kind of leadership, one transcending partisan divisions and the tired traditions of political one-upmanship. The Obama rallying cry of "Yes We Can" has at its very core the principle of Shared Responsibility for Success — a central component of The Interaction Method, a strategic framework for leaders to build understanding and agreement in order to effect change. The Interaction Method is a core model that underpins Interaction Associates' work in leadership development, transformational change, and strategic collaboration. It is a model that we have used for 40 years as we have worked with enlightened leaders all over the world.

While I delight in participating in America’s historic electoral achievement on Tuesday, more than anything, I look forward to President Obama as a leader uniquely tailored to our times. Just as he masterfully used the internet to harness energy of individuals throughout the country and world in the campaign, I’m sure he will continue to make use of this egalitarian vehicle as a source of input into his approach to governing.

In Obama's vision, presidential leadership is not measured by how many detailed policy proposals he can force through Congress or how many "wins" he can chalk up on the political scoreboard. Rather, his vision sets a new standard — that presidential success will be improved by listening and inclusion, by a high level of involvement of "We, the People," by increased transparency and communication leading to mutual trust. As an example, he has already set up a website designed to gather input from the citizenry, and offering transparency into his cabinet selections. 

In carrying out this vision, he must mobilize Congress to identify problems, adopt a collaborative attitude, use facilitative behaviors, and apply strategic thinking to solve them. He must continue to build on his special relationship with "We the people" and demonstrate the unique sense of choosing right action over political advantage that he so often displayed during the campaign.

Obama appears to place an emphasis on rational consideration of all policy options, rather than trusting gut instincts alone. He has shown a respect for scientific evidence where appropriate, and, as a constitutional scholar, exhibits a deep knowledge of constitutional values. These "process" values will serve him well.

In our republic, the Executive is the only branch with a single voice and vision, while Congress has well over 400 often contradictory voices. It will be up to President Obama to apply a new process — a facilitative process — to overcome the very tough problems we now face as a nation.