I was driving on a business trip and listening to the book The President and the Freedom Fighter and have also been slowly working my way through Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Both books highlight the leadership of President Lincoln. Below are some quotes from the latter and what we can learn about leadership as we celebrate President’s Day.
“In order to win a man to your cause you must first reach his heart, the great high road to his reason.”
Throughout his presidential leadership, Lincoln was intentional about when he acted. The emancipation proclamation was first drafted almost six months before it was officially ordered by the President. This was because he understood the importance of timing. Had he ordered this at the time it was written the union was not in a position that would win the hearts of the people. Six months earlier it may have caused a greater divide instead of unity.
Leadership expert John Maxwell in his book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership explains that “people buy into the leader, then the vision.” Lincoln understood this and knew he had to have the hearts of people before he could move forward with his vision for the emancipation of slaves. Great leaders connect with those they lead so they understand their needs and when the time is right they will support the leader’s cause.
“The books, and your capacity for understanding them, are just the same in all places . . . Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed, is more important than any other one thing.”
Lincoln read voraciously. He not only read but sought to understand and apply what he read. It has been said that leaders are readers. Why?
In order to be effective as a leader you must continually be growing. When we stop growing, we stop going. Reading is a way to learn from others we may never meet. Reading expands our perspective. Reading expands our knowledge so we can succeed.
Reading is not enough, we must apply what we learn and put it into action. Maybe there is something we need to change because of what we read, something we need to apply immediately or even teach others. What feeds the desire to grow is the determination that you will succeed. Leaders read in order to succeed.
“Though Lincoln desired success as fiercely as any of his rivals, he did not allow his quest for office to consume the kindness and openheartedness with which he treated supporters and rivals alike,”
Goodwin tells the story of how Lincoln needed someone to galvanize the war department. Many people would not consider someone who humiliated them in the past. Not Lincoln.
Lincoln tapped Edwin Stanton, who previously spoke disparagingly about Lincoln, to be the head of the war department. He did not allow personal grievances to prevent him from inviting people into his inner circle. Throughout his presidency, he had rivals as well as supporters who provided various perspectives to speak into his leadership.
Great leaders have the humility to bring people with different opinions close to them to strengthen their thinking. They put aside personal grievances and create a culture of openness unified around a common cause. As long as everyone in the inner circle is unified around the vision, different perspectives are healthy. Lincoln put people before his agenda and sought what was best for the country above all else.
Consider these priorities: relationships, growth, and different perspectives. Which of them do you need to improve on? Need help thinking into this? Contact me for a thinking partner session to help you think into your leadership. When we raise our leadership ability, it creates room to grow the leaders around us. Lead Well!
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Goodwin, Doris K. Team of Rivals. Simon & Schuster: New York. 2005.
Maxwell, John C. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Harper Collins Leadership. 2022.
