Whatever your political leanings may be … from a leadership perspective, Barak Obama’s ability to rise from a position as Junior Senator from Illinois to the next president of the United States is a very impressive achievement. He was an Illinois State Senator just a couple years ago and out slugged the Clinton juggernaut and the Republican establishment along the way.

How did they do it? There are leadership lessons here for us all.

I am  no Obama insider … never have shaken his hand … and it seems clear from the outside that he has several habits that have been a big contributor to his success. Here are 7 I can clearly identify.

1) The Eye of the Storm …

No matter how good good the news … or how bad … Obama seemed to keep a level head. His only excitement was an occasional smile and laugh. We never saw him mad or sniping. People like a calming influence that keeps them focused on the task at hand. The eye of the storm.

2) Faith in your message …

He stayed consistently on message throughout the campaign. He had a vision. He picked his themes and stuck with them with a faith that they would eventually be acknowledged. People find comfort in a Leader who is consistent, reliable and constant.

3) Let go of your Ego …

Obama took great care to always thank his supporters and credit them with the victories along the way. “Tonight is not about me … it is about you”. Instead of wild celebration, he engaged in heartfelt thanks for his staff and supporters. People love to be acknowledged for a job well done.

4) Be inclusive …

Obama also takes great care to be inclusive of all races, creeds, colors and ideologies. He was elected the first African American President … the entire African American nation was overwhelmed with emotion … he could have evoked King and “I have a dream…” in his victory speech and it might have been interpreted in some circles as divisive. Instead he quoted Abraham Lincoln and a “more perfect union”.  People love to know their leader sees them and speaks for the whole group and not just a favored few.

5) Pick the best for your team

To be competitive in all 50 states … a strategy that was thought foolish when it was announced two years ago … the democrats simply had to be expert in finding and coordinating with top talent in every area of the country. I would love to take a peek at their recruitment criteria and list of interview questions.

6) Remember that everything is Energy

In any leadership position … your energy will influence the energy of your staff and followers. This is a fundamental observation of human behavior. Obama appeared to run an upbeat, high energy campaign from top to bottom. Lots of youth and enthusiasm. The Leaders sets the energetic tone from the top.

7) Never let ANYONE tell you that you Can’t

There is something about the plucky underdog that takes on the establishment and wins. We may chuckle the first time we hear about the upstart … but sooner or later we are all tempted to join in the fight … especially if it starts to look like he can actually win the darn thing. I think this is perhaps a fundamentally american character trait. We believe in this country that anyone can become successful. Seeing that happen on a national level to the most unlikely of characters … renews our faith in the possibility of advancement for us too. People love leaders who think big and then make the “impossible” actually come true.

My hope in the days ahead is that Obama actually proves one of my favorite sayings, “How you do anything is how you do everything”. I trust that the quality leadership that enabled his meteoric rise to the highest office in the land will continue once he is in office and actively involved in governing our nation. Only time will tell and we will all be watching very carefully.