Move Initiative by First Lady Michelle Obama

¶ … Move Initiative by First Lady Michelle Obama

First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move Initiative:

Why the United States Needs Her Health Leadership So Urgently

First Lady Michelle Obama first envisioned her Let's Move Initiative in 2010 after reading the comprehensive White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity report that showed how many American children were facing formidable odds of having a healthy start to their lives. Her values, belief system and driving forces of being a successful mother and one of the most powerful women leaders in the world led to the quick creation of the Let's Move Initiative. Her motivation as a First Lady who wants to make a big difference in the health of the nation's children, and the leave a legacy of lasting change in health habits is commendable. She has set the following objectives for her Let's Move Initiative. Her five objectives for the Let's Move Initiative include creating a healthy start for children; empowering parents and caregivers to make intelligent, informed decisions about which foods are most valuable for children; creating and continually improving healthy food in schools; improving access to healthy affordable goods for children; and increasing the physical activity (Rusnak, 2012). One of the most important driving forces for First Lady Michelle Obama is creating the motivation for children and parents alike to continually improve lives through healthy food choices.

Analysis of the Let's Move Initiative

Michelle Obama has a very unique leadership ability that combines a strong belief system that every child deserves a strong start to their lives, in addition to a compelling vision of creating a solid foundation of health for the nations; children. She has also shown exceptional goal clarity in how she has managed the many tradeoffs inherent in creating the Let's Move Initiative. First Lady Obama also is cognizant of how powerful trust is in any leadership situation. She clearly understands that the currency of the 21st century is trust and can only be earned and kept through the use of a very solid belief system that is predicated on consistent values. Studies of exceptional leadership show how powerful a strong belief system is in creating a value framework that resonates with authenticity and transparency, two critical aspects of any successful change management program (Byron, 2003).

First Lady Michelle Obama has also used the power of goals to create and sustain a highly effective values-based belief system that resonates with a genuine concern for children and families in search of information and guidance of how to stay healthy through better eating habits. She is also leading this imitative at the same level of performance as many corporate leaders continually command their organizations to complex, challenging objectives as well. Studies of effective leadership show how a highly effective values-based belief systems provide associates involved with any new initiative long-term motivation by infusing each task with autonomy, mastery and purpose over time (Leavy, 2012).

First Lady Michelle Obama also has created a solid foundation of transformational leadership by showing how a solid belief system in continual improvement delivers exceptional results over time. By providing stories on the Let's Move Initiative website of children overcoming significant odds to attain the health and fitness objectives the First Leady is showing one of the most critical aspects of leadership which is showing that worthwhile goals take resilience and sacrifice, yet are invaluable in attaining (Powell, 1990). All great leaders have the ability to infuse an organization with a strong foundation of goals and objectives, further underscoring the critical need for long-term motivation to attain challenging goals (Wicker, Brown, 1990). These leaders share a common attribute of being able to create a strong resiliency and toughness in the face of challenges, making the attainment of the goal even more valued and exceptional in terms of performance. The First Lady shows she is an excellent leader by doing this, infusing stories of children overcoming health difficulties through better diet and exercise. She is showing through the Let's Move Initiative how powerful personal transformation is, and how critical resiliency is as a belief system. According to leadership theorists this is the most compelling trait of any transformational leader, and one that infuses enthusiasm, trust and strong motivation to excel on the part of everyone affiliated with the initiative or strategy (Leavy, 2012). First Lady Michelle Obama has these traits and this is why the Let's Move Initiative is surpassing many expectations and making a major impact on the overall development of healthy food programs not just in the U.S. But globally as well (Rusnak, 2012), The First Lady's ability to translate vision and strong motivation through a values that are supporting by clear, compelling goals has turned her let's Move Initiative into one of the most powerful driving forces for the health of children today. She will have attained a strong legacy as First Lady as a result of the many lives she is improving as a result of her efforts.