Not too long ago I read an excellent book by Doris Kearns Goodwin called Leadership In Turbulent Times. This book chronicles the lives and leadership of four presidents during various tumultuous times during United States history.
Each president had a difficult stages in life. They did not easily attain the position of president, but through various personal tragedies and losses they grew from adversity. Three of these presidents had experiences that led them to the same conclusion.
Abraham Lincoln 
Many of us have heard the many failures Lincoln faced on his path to ultimately becoming President of the United States. I could share the lessons learned from those failures, but I will leave that to others. What Kearns pointed out from Lincoln’s leadership was an example of his humility.
Kearns describes how Lincoln assembled a team of “independent, strong-minded men, all of whom were more experienced in public life, better educated, and more celebrated than he. . . . he placed his three chief rivals” to key leadership roles. To be the President of the United States and acknowledge you are not the smartest person takes humility and a quiet confidence in oneself.
Teddy Roosevelt 
Teddy Roosevelt was the one man of the four Kearns discusses who led men in the heat of battle. During his time of service, he understood he must not always be the one leading even if it means he may look foolish to others.
Kearns states that Roosevelt had “the self-awareness to soberly analyze his own strengths and compensate for his weaknesses.” He demonstrated by turning down a leadership opportunity to give someone else the job because their experience would be able to lead the team to victory. This humility of putting the team over his personal ego would serve him well as he continued to lead during his life.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
A man who had experienced great success had his world shaken when he was diagnosed with Polio. After many years of struggling with polio, Roosevelt envisioned creating a community for healing and connection among those suffering from this disease. That vision became Warm Springs.
During his time running Warm Springs Kearns
states he not only brought healing and hope to others who suffered from Polio, but he himself experienced what she quoted Perkins as saying was a “spiritual transformation.” Through being in a shared community where they shared with one another the struggles of this disease and learning and listening to others Roosevelt removed the elitist air that surrounded him. This experience grew humility as a leadership strength into FDR’s character.
Each man had a different path, but all three came to a point where they either explicitly or implicitly learned the importance of humility for effective leadership.
What about you? In what ways do you need to recognize the need for others and have the humility to accept help in your leadership? Do you surround yourself with others smarter than you to provide healthy conflict? What is one step you can take today to lead with humility? Share your thoughts so we can become more aware of areas we may need to grow. Lead Well.
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