The Main Characters Of Abraham Lincoln On Leadership

Lincoln used his background as an outlet when making most of his decisions. During two occasions, he addressed his respect for Kentucky and its citizens, but needed them to stand behind his vision. In Sept of 1859, he addressed how he believed slavery was wrong and wish for it not to spread . In 1860, Lincoln wanted to succeed Pennsylvania. In Feb of 1861, he had the same speech. Many people were concerned about what Lincoln could actually do. They did not forget that Lincoln had little to no experience with law. He only had up to eighteen months of formal schooling. Despite these facts, Lincoln was regarded as “Candidate of pride, wealth and aristocratic family distinction”. Better than most union leaders he appreciated conditions in the south… and the advantages of being able to call on the old southern leaders. He was very generous and considerate. Lincoln was for the North but he was also connected to the South fundamentally and emotionally. In 1864, a northern delegation conferred with him concerning escaped slaves coming within union lines. Lincoln was once again facing issues he did not see coming his way. From left to right, people were expecting him to back up his word. He had to prove to them he could get the job done, regardless of the obstacles he may

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 demonstrates a good amount of qualities that made an admired and inspirational leader. Abraham lincoln was able to keep his goal in mind while maintaining his great personality. He was able to listen to different point of views and not regards anyone’s opinions and ideas because simply he was the president. As well as, he was able to demonstrate helpful and supportive leadership during the Civil War. By freeing the slaves, he was showing his compassion for humanity and had a great

Abraham Lincoln is best remembered as being America’s first war president. In the nineteenth century, the American presidency had seen nothing like the Civil War, and war was upon Lincoln before he or anyone else considered how the position of Commander-in-Chief fit into the Constitution. This resulted in an unorganized thought process and policy. Brian Dirck, author of the article “Lincoln as Commander in Chief,” writes:

Abraham Lincoln was one the best leaders and commanders this country has ever had. And that wasn’t just noticed by a few people, it was noticed by many. Frederick Douglass describes Lincoln in his “Oration in Memory of Abraham Lincoln” and being “swift, zealous, radical, and determined.” He ended his statement by saying “his memory will be precious forever” (Document K). Another quality that made Lincoln such a great leader was that he thought of the country as a whole before himself.

Another great leadership ability that Lincoln possessed was his ability to appoint the right people for the right jobs in his Cabinet. Even though they were some of the greatest minds of his time, some of his Cabinet members were also some of his biggest political adversaries. Through his great leadership, he was able to assemble this group and to pull them together to make it work. Lincoln also had the ability to make a mistake, learn from it and then move on, creating an environment of learning in his administration. Also, when the administration was successful, Lincoln was willing to share the credit with his administration, not taking all the credit for himself. This ability can be a great motivator, since it gives people a sense of accomplishment (Moreton, 2008).

Across time, political leaders have often been remembered for their greatness by how they faced challenges than with what particular skills or abilities they had during their time in office. This statement is known to be true as political leaders are often expected to solve certain issues or challenges when in office and if their contributions benefit the state or country. Additionally, history books, records, and scholarly journals will take note of a leader’s response to challenges, how they are handled, and if the issue is solved more than whether they adequately used certain skills and abilities to solve the problem. In short, challenges, when faced, allow the political leaders to be remembered more so than their talents.

Throughout recent history, the definition of leadership has been the subject of a vast number books, articles, and essays. Countless authors have attempted define the ability to lead in a tangible way. They have scrutinized on how one becomes a leader and how one successfully leads. Because the ability to lead is so ambiguous and no one can follow a definable set of steps to become a leader, many authors have use examples of leaders to illustrate their views on the subject. And even in the limited scope of time that is the history of the United States, dozens of men and women have lead Americans through their words, beliefs, and actions. Whether they are appointed leaders such as President George Washington or Thomas Jefferson, or leaders of worthwhile cause such as Susan B. Anthony or Martin Luther King Jr., these leaders provide a blueprint that if examined carefully, can provide useful advice for those aspiring to become great leaders. And for Donald T. Phillips, the American leader whose life “still inspires and moves people from all walks of life” and provides an example of leadership that is without equal is Abraham Lincoln (Phillips). In his book Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times Phillips provides 15 overarching leadership qualities that Lincoln followed all throughout his life. By describing how Lincoln exhibited each of these qualities thoroughly, Phillips then relates how potential leaders today can duplicate those same qualities in their

Ever since I was a little child, I have been an admirer of President Lincoln, his achievements, and his incredible rags-to-riches story. A long time ago, in the beginning of the 19th century, Abraham Lincoln was a small town Springfield boy who was born to a poor family and had little access to formal education. However, Lincoln was hard-working and determined to succeed, and taught himself law and became a prosperous figure. There are many tales of how he walked miles and did odd jobs just to be given the chance to read a book. It was this dedication to learning and knowledge that would lead him to the highest office in the nation. However, he still had troubles, and when he ran for the House of Representatives in 1846, he was defeated by his Democratic opponent, Henry Clay. Nevertheless, he persevered through his troubles, and his nationwide fame from his debates with Clay landed him the Republican Presidential Nomination in 1860. After a long and strenuous campaign, he won in a landslide, and took the office of President of the United States. When Lincoln took office, the United States was in a period of national turmoil, from the Missouri compromise and a larger disagreement on the issue of slavery. In 1861, the Southern states rallied together in a confederacy to try and secede from the Union, but Lincoln knew he had to keep the country together. Throughout 4 long and harsh years of bitter warfare, his leadership led the country through the bloodiest war it had ever seen, and many say it was his decisions and strength that kept the young country together. One of the most memorable moments of the war came from his remarkable address in the battle at Gettysburg, a few months after he issued the Emancipation Proclamation. This masterpiece of a speech rallied the nation around him and the morale-boosting victory at Gettysburg turned the tide of the war and lead the

Abraham Lincoln is known to almost everyone. It is recognized that he led the country through one of the hardest times in its history. What many of us do not know or understand are the methods he employed in order to lead us through the Civil War. Phillips became interested in Lincoln’s leadership methods and abilities because he found that these same ideas were still being taught today. He wrote this book because he was unable to find other books detailing Lincoln’s leadership. Because Lincoln’s methods are still applicable in today’s leadership environment, Phillips realized that much could be learned by examining Lincoln’s actions while

Abraham Lincoln was one of the key leaders that had determined the outcome of the Civil War. Despite his inadequacy with being a commander in chief of the Union, his job as a self taught lawyer permitted him to learn more quickly. He had read many different pieces and books about war and different strategies to better understand how to be a good war leader. He had patience, approached situations with caution (McPherson). Being the timid and soft spoken man that he was, most of his ideas given to military generals had been ‘brushed off’. Lincoln then found himself at a turning point. He started to take a more of a firm, assertive approach. After Lincoln’s adjustment in his style of leadership, The Union had a streak of victories, most prominently at the Battle of Vicksburg and Battle of Gettysburg, Gettysburg marking the turning point of the war.

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.

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.

Donald T. Phillips’ book, Lincoln on Leadership, explores the life and practices of Abraham Lincoln as the leader of the United States of America. Without question, Lincoln’s legacy lies as one of the greatest leaders in the history of the country. Lincoln’s style of leadership, which facilitated his accomplishment of one of the most complicated tasks in a divided country, have only recently become the foundation for developing concepts of leadership in both private and public organizations. Throughout Lincoln on Leadership, Phillips discusses over one hundred of Lincoln’s principles of leadership and practices, practices which still inspire and motivate persons in all aspects of society.

He often would walk from his office to the Secretary of War’s office to discuss strategies to win the war. David T. Phillips stated in his book Lincoln on Leadership that, “Lincoln spent most of his time among the troops” (p.13). Lincoln rode his horse most of the time to the camp of the Union soldiers and cheered them up. He also motivated them by letting them know the importance of winning the war. The Core Lesson under Individual Consideration states that, “The leader empathizes with and supports each follower and keeps channels of communication open” [BCEE] (2014a, p.13). We have discussed Lincoln as Visionary Leader now let’s move on to Lincoln as Ethical Leader.