''' In business, daily challenges with deadlines, budgets, and logistics can sometimes feel like a battle. For guidance on navigating these pressures, leaders can look to the principles of President Abraham Lincoln, who led the United States through the Civil War while managing conflicting interests and political adversaries.
Lincoln's effectiveness was rooted in his understanding of people and how to lead them toward a common goal. He followed a few key principles that remain relevant for today's business leaders.
6 Leadership Lessons from Abraham Lincoln
1. Get Out of the Office (MBWA)
Lincoln's first rule was to leave the office to understand his assets and get his own answers. During the first months of the war, he personally met every new soldier. This practice, now known as Management By Walking Around (MBWA), allowed him to gain firsthand knowledge of problems, rather than assuming his staff knew everything about the people under them. He knew it was vital for everyone, from privates to generals, to share his objective.
2. Persuade Rather Than Order
He favored persuasion over coercion. Lincoln understood that while he could order people to act, they would be far more committed if they felt they were part of the plan. Through persuasion, he built a team of supporters invested in their shared goals. This approach enlisted their support for decisions they might have otherwise rejected. While his reluctance to dictate meant he was sometimes slow to replace unsuccessful generals, he still retained their respect.
3. Lead by Being Led
Lincoln led by listening. He carefully considered everyone with a stake in a decision, asking the right questions to penetrate to the heart of an issue. A leader must know which questions to ask and how to evaluate the answers. By relying on others and making them feel their contributions were essential, he ensured they were deeply committed to the outcome.
4. Encourage Innovation
This led to his fourth rule: encourage innovation. Lincoln assembled a cabinet of bright minds, including skeptics and political adversaries, and won them over by graciously valuing their help. He knew that ignoring his advisors was a waste of talent and that a strategy is more powerful when the team has a hand in its conception.
5. Couch Issues in Wisdom and Humor
As a great storyteller, Lincoln used anecdotes and homespun humor to make his points in a non-threatening way. He believed that if people were smiling, it would be much harder for them to disagree, famously saying, "You catch a lot more flies with a spoonful of honey than with a gallon of gall."
6. Relax to Regain Perspective
Finally, the President knew that mental exhaustion is the greatest enemy of good decisions. To counteract the immense pressure he was under, he and his wife made it a point to frequently attend plays, concerts, and musicals. These moments of relaxation were not a dismissal of his duties but a necessary way to restore his energy and perspective.
These lessons in strategic leadership are as applicable in business today as they were during the Civil War. '''