Putting the candidates to the test

You've seen them and heard them, but what do you think of them? Do they have what it takes to be a great leader? Will they be able to get their political teams to do their best work? We've asked a panel of experts to run the candidate's personalities through a questionnaire. You can do it too...

Barack Obama's Results

John McCain's Results

The U.S. Economic Crisis and the Debate

The reactions of Obama and McCain in the current financial crisis and their performances in the presidential debate are completely aligned with our predictions based on their team profiles.

There has been a “loose cannon” aura about McCain’s handling of both the current U.S. economic crisis and how he chose his running mate, Sarah Palin, consistent with someone who is a strong Shaper and Resource Investigator. Obama, in contrast, has been seen as taking more well-thought-out actions and being more interested in working cooperatively, characteristic of a Plant with strong Coordinator and Teamworker contributions.  Read more...

Judging the leaders using the Belbin method

The intensive research that Meredith Belbin conducted in the latter half of the 20th Century into what it takes to have a winning team provides a unique framework to evaluate the style, strengths and possible weaknesses of the two contenders for the U.S. presidency in November.  Belbins’s research revealed that it is possible to predict the style of management that each candidate is likely to bring to the job of president. 

The Globe and Mail with assistance from 3 Circle Partners has analyzed input from expert panels using Belbin Team Role Profiles to determine what style of leadership we can expect from Barack Obama  and John McCain.

The Globe and Mail is making the Belbin process open so you can participate and see how they will measure up.