Lead Like Lincoln
Today is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. Lincoln was born 207 years ago. He was not a born leader because that is not possible, but he did develop into one of the greatest leaders our country has ever seen.
The life of Abraham Lincoln is proof that great leaders are raised to confront great challenges. Lincoln possessed three leadership attributes badly needed by a nation torn apart by Civil War. First, he could focus on a single leadership objective. Second, he put his extraordinary communication abilities to best use. And last, he was determined to succeed!
This determination to succeed made the difference. As Lincoln himself said, “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.”
Lincoln possessed a unique – some would call it ‘folksy’ – leadership style. In the end, however, what we praise is not the style; we revere him for the results he achieved.
Lincoln saved the Union through reliance on a solid bedrock of leadership strategy and a consensus of support that enabled him and his leadership team to meet the changing demands of the Civil War. (Read more about his team in the great book Team of Rivals. This was one of 52 books I read last year.)
Here are a Three Ways to Lead Like Lincoln:
Be Decisive – Effective leaders know when to get the opinions of others and when to make a decision. It is always important to seek council and to seek solitude in order to make a decision. But leaders must make a decision and stick with it even when it is not popular. Lincoln had the ability to know when he had all of the information he needed. He was able to determine the best solution and make decisions without wavering.
Don’t Take Things Personally – Lincoln was hard to offend even when offense was warranted. He had a forgiving spirit and he knew his responsibilities were too important to let personal battles keep him from the task at hand. By not worrying about his own legacy, he became more honorable.
Do the Right Thing – There were times when Lincoln was under enormous pressure to fire members of his cabinet, to make changes in personnel, or to hold back on issues related to emancipation. He could have succumbed easily to outside pressure. Quick decisions might have given him immediate popularity. He decided to do the right thing and accept the fallout.
Today, I am personally reflecting on how I can lead more like Lincoln while also making sure that I lead like me. The key is to have a growth mindset, to always be looking to improve.
How do you currently lead like Lincoln? What will you do over the next few days to improve yourself? What will you do to better serve someone else?
