• Vision. “Whether you like his politics or not, Obama’s obviously got it. From the economy to the environment, education to health care, the President has articulated his goals to the nation.”
• Communication. You must state your vision “consistently, vividly, and so darn frequently that your throat gets sore….Every time he speaks, which is often, he’s thoughtful, expansive, and candid.” And they like that he’s getting out of Washington to impart his message, like on the Leno show.
• Team-building. They were initially skeptical about how Larry Summers and Tim Geithner would work together, and how Hillary Clinton would mesh. But they see Summers and Geithner working together “seamlessly, egos in check.” And, “Hillary is refreshing in her new role, with the President clearly giving her the latitude to make a mark.”
• Speed. At first, “We actually worried that he was moving too fast on too many fronts, diverting attention from the economic crisis.” But as the weeks progressed, they saw Obama tighten his focus and take some decisive actions (whether you agree with those actions is irrelevant to the column). 
• Authenticity. This trait, they say, is “the hallmark of evey effective leader.” And for that, they say, “Thank goodness for Michelle.” Barack Obama is “somewhat cool in his effect. That’s fine. But people crave humnanity in their leaders. Luckily, his wife, with her warmth and broad appeal, is supplying it in buckets.”

In summation: “When it comes to the traits a successful leader absolutely has to have, the President is hitting on all cylinders.”

Having said all this, they stress that Obama hasn’t been tested in two key areas: resilience, and championing unpopular causes. Time will tell on those issues.

They conclude, “While we’d like to see his skills applied to different plicies, when it comes to leaership, Barack Obama has certainly earned an A.”