President Abraham Lincoln appointed the best and brightest to his Cabinet, individuals who were also some of his greatest political rivals. He demonstrated his leadership by pulling this group together into a unique team that represented the greatest minds of his time, according to historian Doris Kearns Goodwin.
Lincoln demonstrated an ability to withstand adversity and to move forward in the face of frustration, says Kearns Goodwin. She identifies these 10 qualities that made Lincoln a great leader—qualities that Kearns Goodwin believes we should look for in our present-day leaders.
1. Capacity to Listen to Different Points of View. While researching her Pulitzer Prize winning book, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, Kearns Goodwin learned that Lincoln had the capacity to listen to different points of view. He created a climate where Cabinet members were free to disagree without fear of retaliation. At the same time, he knew when to stop the discussion and, after listening to the various opinions, make a final decision.
2. Ability to Learn on the Job. Lincoln was able to acknowledge errors, learn from them, and then move on. In this way, he established a culture of learning in his administration, says Kearns Goodwin.
You know your managers could do a better job if they were trained—and now BLR® offers you an easy and affordable way to get that done—with our TrainingToday® 24/7 online Leadership Library. Get more information.
3. Ready Willingness to Share Credit for Success. In response to concerns expressed by friends about the actions of some of his Cabinet members, Lincoln stated that the “path to success and ambition is broad enough for two,” says Kearns Goodwin. When there was success, Lincoln shared the credit with all of those involved.
4. Ready Willingness to Share Blame for Failure. When mistakes were made by members of his Cabinet, Lincoln stood up for them, says Kearns Goodwin. When contracts related to the war effort raised serious questions about a member of his administration, Lincoln spoke up and indicated that he and his entire Cabinet were to blame.
5. Awareness of Own Weaknesses. Kearns Goodwin notes that one of the weaknesses acknowledged by Lincoln was his tendency to give people too many chances. Because he was aware, he was able to compensate for that weakness. As an example, she states that George McClellan, Commander in Chief of the Union Army, refused to follow directives about the war effort. Lincoln eventually set a deadline and removed McClellan from the position.
6. Ability to Control Emotions. According to Kearns Goodwin, Lincoln treated those he worked with well. However, he did get angry and frustrated, so he found a way to channel those emotions. He was known to sit down and write what he referred to as a “hot letter” to the individual he was angry with and then he would set the letter aside and not send it. If he did lose his temper, Lincoln would follow up with a kind gesture or letter to let the individual know he was not holding a grudge, says Kearns Goodwin. She notes that one of the letters was released as part of Lincoln’s presidential papers with a notation that it was never signed nor sent.
Worried about ever getting your managers and supervisors trained to be effective leaders? It isn’t easy to fit it in—schedulewise or budgetwise—but now there’s BLR’s Leadership Library for Managers and Supervisors. Train all your people, at their convenience, 24/7, for one standard fee. Get more information.
In tomorrow’s Advisor, we’ll look at Lincoln’s last four leadership qualities, plus we’ll examine a comprehensive online leadership library of ready-to-use, interactive courses for your managers and supervisors.