Barack Obama: A Leader for the 'We' Generation

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In the corporate world, progressive business leaders are adopting this new style and achieving great success. Look at the remarkable results of Google (GOOG) in harnessing the Internet for vital information and of Genentech (DNA) in creating life-saving drugs.

Well-established American icons like IBM (IBM), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Avon, and Procter & Gamble (PG) have shifted steadily to the collaborative, empowered organization style and have results that prove it works. IBM's Sam Palmisano has converted his 344,000-employee organization from a silo mentality to an integrated global network, focused on leading by values. J&J's Bill Weldon uses the J&J Credo (BusinessWeek.com, 9/5/08) and a decentralized organization to keep J&J growing as competitors stagnated.

Spreading the Gospel

Avon's (AVP) Andrea Jung has quadrupled her organization of 6 million "empowered women" to sustain Avon's growth for a decade. A. G. Lafley has transformed P&G into a global powerhouse by empowering people throughout the world.

These examples aren't limited to business. In religion, the most rapidly growing churches are Rick Warren's Saddleback and Bill Hybels' Willow Creek. Both organizations build around small groups of empowered people who are dedicated to serving people as far away as Rwanda and Zimbabwe. In education, Wendy Kopp's Teach For America created a corps of committed teachers achieving great success in inner city classrooms.

In health care, the Mayo Clinic's well-established collaborative model is being adopted by major systems like Allina Health System to fulfill its healing mission. Among nonprofits, the Gates Foundation is working with local, "on the ground" organizations such as Carolina for Kibera that recently received a major grant to help people in the Kenyan slum.

These trends portend massive changes in the 21st century leadership of American institutions, led by the Obama government itself. The most successful leaders will be those who can align people around common goals of serving people and empower them with a collaborative style. Their organizations will be the winners in restoring the U.S. to global greatness.

George, professor of management practice at Harvard Business School, is the author of two best-selling books, True North and Authentic Leadership. The former chairman and chief executive of Medtronic, he serves on the boards of ExxonMobil, Goldman Sachs, and Novartis.