Historical biographer Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, identifies 10 leadership qualities that President Abraham Lincoln demonstrated that she believes still apply to today’s leaders. Here are the last four qualities that Lincoln—and your managers and supervisors—can learn to apply in the workplace today.
7. Know How to Relax and Replenish. Lincoln understood the importance of relaxation and humor to shake off the stress of the day and to replenish himself for the challenges of the next day. According to Kearns Goodwin, Lincoln had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to tell funny stories. He encouraged a healthy atmosphere of laughter and fun in his administration. He also enjoyed going to the theater and spending time with friends.
8. Go Out into the Field and Manage Directly. During the Civil War, many soldiers died and there were many ups and downs. Lincoln established lasting connections with the troops by visiting the battlefields and hospitals, which also helped bolster morale.
Lincoln also spent time talking with members of the public, taking ‘public opinion baths,’ according to Kearns Goodwin. He held public receptions and made a point of shaking everyone’s hand and speaking to each individual.
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9. Strength to Adhere to Fundamental Goals. In the summer of 1964, says Kearns Goodwin, the war was not going well for the North. Members of his political party came to Lincoln and said that there was no way to win the war and that he might have to compromise on slavery. Lincoln held firm on the issue of slavery and turned away from this advice.
10. Ability to Communicate Goals and Vision. Kearns Goodwin states that Lincoln had a “remarkable ability to communicate his goals to his countrymen.” He made concepts simple and communicated with an understanding of the concerns of the citizens.
When the war ended and he won reelection, Lincoln did not focus on his achievements, says Kearns Goodwin. Rather, in his second inaugural speech, Lincoln focused on bringing the country together as expressed in the following excerpt. “With malice toward none, with charity for all, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”
Kearns Goodwin also notes the following words from Leo Tolstoy about Abraham Lincoln. His greatness, wrote Tolstoy, consisted of the “integrity of his character and moral fiber of his being.”
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