In an article edited by Philip Barbara of Reuters, the subject of management and lessons to be learned from the new US President-elect, Barack Obama, reinforced what I have always believed is good business practice.

The article states: "If Obama were a corporate chief executive, he would be winning high marks for his management style, experts say.

"The president-elect's steady hand and calm demeanour are traits business leaders could well learn from.

"'What he's doing is masterful,' said Paul Reagan, a management consultant and senior lecturer at Wayne State University in Detroit.

"'His value system is clear, and he spends a tremendous amount of time reinforcing that he does what he says he will do'.

"'There's one particular aspect of Obama's style that business leaders likely do not share – an acute awareness of his own strengths and weakness', said Paul Copcutt, a personal brand strategist based in Dundas, Ontario.

"'From Hillary Clinton, a former campaign rival, to Robert Gates, a holdover from the administration of Republican President George W. Bush, Obama's cabinet choices show an effort to build a coalition with voices that may disagree with his own', Reagan said.

"'Chief executives, on the other hand, often build a go-to team of supportive advisors who 'don't bring in all of the voices that they really need to lead all of the organisation,' he said."

If you think about it, this makes a lot of sense.

Build on your strengths and respect your weaknesses.

Get the help you need in those areas that are not your forte, so your can focus on what you do best.

South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon said, during his enlightening talk at the recent DBF business breakfast that we urgently need to learn to use teamwork and employ a Virtuous Circle strategy for business.

Let's make a nonsense of the current odds and shake up our thinking for a prosperous and exciting 2009.

Jenna Cox is managing partner of marketing, PR, graphic and web-design consultancy, Articulate HLC, and a DBF committee member.