Each year I like to take time to help us draw out leadership lessons from presidential leaders. Think about it, the presidents of the United States have faced some of the most daunting challenges and have had to make tough decisions that have shaped the course of history. As citizens we can easily criticize and share our opinions just like fans of a football game can criticize the coach, but unless we have been in their seat, we really don’t understand the pressure. You face your own pressures as a leader. Let’s take a moment and look at some lessons we can learn from past presidents.
Effective Communication
One of the most important qualities of a successful leader is the ability to communicate effectively. Time and time again, we have seen presidents who were able to connect with the American people through powerful speeches and clear, concise messaging. Whether it was Abraham Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address or Franklin D. Roosevelt’s fireside chats, these leaders understood the importance of rallying public support through effective communication.
Calm Under Pressure
The President never knows what problem he will wake up to. The presidency is perhaps one of the most high-pressure jobs in the world, and yet the best leaders have demonstrated an ability to stay composed in the face of crisis. Whether it was George Washington’s leadership during the American Revolution or John F. Kennedy’s handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis, these leaders remained calm and collected even in the most challenging situations.
Develop a Strong Team
In the book Team of Rivals Doris Kearns Goodwin highlights the fact that President Lincoln had a team of different thinking individuals in his cabinet, some were his rivals. He understood that effective leaders build strong teams. No president can run the country single-handedly, and the best leaders have understood the importance of surrounding themselves with a strong team of advisors and experts. Whether in war or peace presidents have carefully built teams around them that would help inform their decisions. The model of Lincoln was he surrounded himself with people who thought differently. This helped him get diverse perspectives in decision-making as well as insight into how others thought.
Decisive
Presidential leaders have often demonstrated a willingness to make tough decisions, even when they are unpopular. Whether it was Harry Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan or Lyndon B. Johnson’s push for civil rights legislation, these leaders were not afraid to make difficult choices in the face of intense opposition. In doing so, they were able to make lasting and meaningful change.
How are you doing in these areas as a leader? Take a moment and evaluate how effectively you communicate, how calm you are under pressure, how diverse your team is, and how decisive you are in decision-making. Which of these areas do you need to focus on during the next week or month? Need help growing in one of these areas? Contact me for a powerful coaching experience to help you think into your results and grow as a leader. Lead well.
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