Abraham Lincoln On Leadership: Executive Strategies For Tough Times

I start this project on Lincoln’s leadership very reluctantly. I am a history buff and have always viewed his leadership through the eyes of jaded historians. They have portrayed him as a dictator, incompetent, and a buffoon at some points. After reading the Donald T. Phillips book Lincoln on Leadership, my mindset was totally changed. This book broke down four key areas that produced an effective leader in Lincoln. These areas are character, people, endeavor, and communication. I will be sharing a principal from each key area that I found important and then conclude with an overall thought.

Abraham Lincoln is regarded by many Americans as the greatest president to ever hold office in the history of the United States, and his reputation is definitely well deserved. Lincoln wasn't scared to stand up and fight for what he knew was right. He was convinced that within the branches of government, the presidency alone was empowered not only to uphold the Constitution, but also to protect, and defend it. Lincoln was able to lead our country and preserve the Union, keeping the United States from splintering during the devastating times of the Civil War. As President, he built the Republican Party into a strong national organization, and he rallied most of the northern Democrats to the Union cause. On January 1, 1863, he issued the

History is flooded with important leaders and figures. Some of the best leader’s America has ever seen are Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. Jefferson played an incredibly important role in the foundation of America. In his two terms he managed to cut the national debt and military in half, and expand the country itself by more than half with the Louisiana purchase. Jefferson was able to do these things because he had such a strong head on his shoulders - he had firm beliefs and refused to back down from them. While it may be argued that Jefferson did go against his word most of the time, his pride allowed him to act against what he preached because he knew his actions would be successful. President Lincoln is best known for the addition of the 13th amendment to the constitution and the emancipation proclamation, ending all slavery in

Even though Abraham Lincoln was considered to be one of America’s greatest presidents, Hofstadter challenges that idea. Hofstadter also states that Lincoln was an advocate for the common man and believed in simplicity. – “It was precisely in his attainments as a common man that Lincoln felt himself to be remarkable, and in this light that he interpreted to the world the significance of his career.” Lincoln struggled with many conflicts as president. The most significant conflict that Hofstadter presents is the conflict of his balancing his religious beliefs and ultimate goals of becoming successful. “The motivating force in the mythology of success is ambition, which is closely akin to the cardinal Christian sin of pride… How can an earnest man, a public figure living in a time of crisis, gratify his aspirations and yet remain morally whole? “He believes that making him known to be the “clean hero” was completely outlandish. Hofstadter’s biggest criticism about Lincoln is that “he was a follower and not a leader of public opinion.” One major example was the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, which stated that “contained no indictment of slavery, … expressly omitted the loyal slave states from its terms … [and] did not in fact free any slaves.” Hofstadter also criticizes Lincoln’s “embarrassing contradictions” when it came to the topic of slavery, where in a Chicago speech he presented he said

Abraham Lincoln is mostly thought to be the primary trendy president in many respects. Whereas he's most celebrated for releasing the slaves and conserving the federal Union, he conjointly greatly enlarged the bounds of Yankee presidential authority and power. In fact, even supposing it had been not his original intention, he much redefined the presidency whereas, at constant time, notably redaction the Yankee constitutional system.

Abraham Lincoln was a strong leader because he appointed his rivals into his cabinet. This was a very bold and strong move for the President because all of his rivals were very smart and had all different views. His cabinet consisted of William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, William P. Fessenden, Simon Cameron, Edwin M. Stanton, Edward Bates, James Speed, Montgomery Blair, William Dennison, Gideon Welles, Caleb B. Smith and Caleb B. Smith. This proves that Abraham Lincoln was confident and cared more about the success of American than personal disputes.

Abraham Lincoln, Civil Rights Activist, U.S. Representative, U.S. President, and lawyer is regarded as one of America’s most successful presidents due to his incredible impact on the nation, and his views on slavery and civil rights. Abraham Lincoln, also referred to by Honest Abe, had one of the hardest jobs a president can have and that is being a war-time leader. Despite the odds, Lincoln persevered through his rough childhood and found his way into politics and later became one of America’s greatest and most respected presidents, because of all the countless sacrifices he made for our country.

Phillip Shaw Paludan, a Kentucky native, claims that President Abraham Lincoln deserves to be considered the nation’s greatest President because he faced the Civil War, “our greatest national trauma”, and his actions both saved the Union and the lives of the slaves.

When I think of the leaders who have positive impact on American history, the first person that comes to my mind is always Abraham Lincoln. According to a survey done by the Washington Post in 2014, I am not the only one who believes that Lincoln is the greatest leader in the american history, but most of the people. Lincoln a lawyer and the 16th president of the United States, he has prevented the United states from breaking apart by led the North in the civil war and defeated the South. More than that, Lincoln has changed the American social structure by ended the slavery in US and gave the slaves the right to vote. Lincoln has contributed to the american society so much that the success of US today is largely depend on contributions Lincoln has made. Although the legend died in his assassination in 1865, his renown will last forever.

Out of all the US presidents, only a few have stood out. The United States always has and always will need someone who is willing to guide the citizens who reside there. Especially in times of turmoil, an outstanding individual is needed to step up and take a position of leadership. One of the greatest men who took that position was Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln, or "The Great Emancipator" (Stone 8), was a powerful man with knowledge and empathy.

After studying Lincolns life and specifically his time in office, I strongly disagree with Statement 1. This statement not only undermines the president’s major role in the victory, but also overstates the North’s advantage in human and material resources. In fact, many of the advantages that the North did have, were the result of Lincoln’s leadership. Regardless of the North’s advantage in size and resources, Lincoln made several key decisions that helped result in the Union’s victory. During Lincoln’s time in office, his primary concern was the Civil war. As he states several times in his inaugural address, his central conflict consisted of upholding the nation. In order to do so, Lincoln made several strategic decisions and focused on many aspects of the war that were crucial in defeating the Confederacy. Among these important decisions and acts are his response to Fort Sumter, important foreign policy negotiations, and the Emancipation Proclamation.

Abraham Lincoln’s ambition, passion, and ideas changed the course of the United States forever. He could have run for senator in Illinois, lost, and only been a footnote in history, but instead he went on to be one of the most important presidents in the history of the United States. This happened not just because of his strong morals and his ideas, although that was a large part of it, but also for other reasons. He knew how to remain moderate enough that he would appear to not only the most loyal Republicans. He appealed to the basis of the country, the Constitution, Declaration, and the wishes of the forefathers to gain sympathy for his cause. However, it was not only his ideas and what he spoke about that made him so powerful and

Lincoln had many strategies when it came to his leadership, and from the book, “Lincoln on Leadership,” his ideas and techniques are showcased in detail. From the many strategies that Lincoln had employed, I had identified three techniques from three different chapters in Lincoln on Leadership for analysis. The first strategy that I will discuss is from chapter two; “Showing your compassionate and caring nature will aid you in forging successful relationships.” The second strategy is from chapter three, and it is as follows; “A good leader avoids issuing orders, preferring to request, imply, or make suggestions.” Lastly, the third and final strategy that I will discuss if from Chapter six; “Do the very best you know how – the very best you can – and keep doing so until the end.” I chose these specific strategies in accordance to their applicability to my leadership style, as I find myself identifying with these rather comfortably. I will begin to explain this through the first strategy regarding compassion and a caring nature.

“Whatever you are, be a good one.” (Abraham Lincoln Quotes, 2016) Those words are often attributed to Abraham Lincoln, one of the greatest leaders of all time, epitomized multiple characteristics of being a successful leader. Lincoln was considered honest, diligent, and visionary and a humble man. On his way to becoming a great leader, he suffered many setbacks, but like most successful leaders learned from those setbacks and preserved through to change the face of this country. He communicated his message and inspired those around him and across the country in his battle to end slavery.

Abraham Lincoln was born to Thomas and Nancy (nee Hanks) Lincoln in Sinking Spring Farm, Kentucky on February 12, 1809 in a cabin in the backwoods three miles south of Hodgenville (McPherson). His family lived meagerly with his clothes being fashioned from the skins of animals his fathers shot down. He helped his parents around the house weeding the garden, bringing in firewood and water, gathering wild grapes from the woods, and helping to sow seeds at planting time (Thomas, 2008). Years later when Lincoln was running for Presidency of the United States, a campaign biographer, John Locke Scripps, asked him about his childhood years in Kentucky. Without hesitating, Lincoln replied: "Why, Scripps, it is a great piece of folly to attempt to make anything out of my early life. It can all be condensed into a single sentence and that sentence you will find in Gray's elegy 'The short and simple annals of the poor'" (2008). In the spring of 1811, the Lincoln family moved to a farm in Knob Creek the first home that Lincoln states remembering. There was a trail the Cumberland Trail that ran from Louisville to Nashville close to their farm on which pioneers with wagons and driven livestock headed for the Northwest. There were also peddlers with their wares, preachers, and lines of slaves all tied together following their masters (Thomas, 2008). There were not many slaves that lived around Lincoln's farm mainly because of the sentiment among the Methodists and particular the Baptists,