Character Of Leadership
This book is a totally believable world of blood thirsty vampires in the mid 19th century where our hero Lincoln slays his way to the White House. The action, the suspense, what a great read. There are even pictures that prove all of it to be true……Oh, sorry wrong book. We were suppose to read Team of Rivals correct? Oops! Ok, let me focus in that direction!
Lincoln was a man that was not thought much of. Yet, in present day and in days gone by much has been written about this low-educated-self-trained-reader-turned-Politian that baffles the imagination. Literally from obscurity (Springfield Illinois) and nothingness comes this man who raised through his contemporary ranks and captured the 1860 Republican Presidential nomination and then the highest office in the land. It was this “not-thought-much-of” president that changed the world for the better and forever.
As iron sharps iron, Lincoln gathered the very men that ran against him to be his closet advisors and as Goodwin points out, they were better educated, better prepared, and many thought a better choice for the presidency. Through mistakes on their own part, each of the contenders against Lincoln failed to capitalize on leverage, while Lincoln moved with great political ingenuity in both seizing the nomination of his party and then the presidency itself. All this and so much more about Lincoln is better known and researched by people who have written over 250+ books such as Goodwin’s Team of Rivals, McPherson Tried by War, Bill O’Reilly’s Killing Lincoln and even Seth Grahame-Smith Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.
MaryKate Morse states that “Leadership means influence.”[1] The lasting legacy of this obscure man, who came from behind to lead our nation through the worst national crises we have ever faced, continues to influence people to this day. Truly this was a great man that deserves our continued study. And in so doing I learned many key things.
Patience – Lincoln showed this through his consistent walking out the basics and continual attention to the people around him. He patiently worked with the strong personalities around him and awaited the best decision to arise. He was not hasty in his action nor lead by his on emotional issues.
Determination – Once Lincoln had made a decision he was determined to follow through even when negativity arose concerning his decision. Leadership is not about winning a popularity contest but about doing the best thing possible for the church, the organization, or the business. Others may not understand why such a decision was made but as Lincoln led so must we, with determination for the greater good. Yet, there must be a fine line all leaders walk between the organization and the people that are the organization. Lincoln demonstrated this with his shrewdness.
Shrewdness – When embarrassed by one of his officers Lincoln had to both bring discipline and yet maintain the dignity of his officer. Again Lincoln was able to accommodate the needed justice and the desired grace through his ability to appease both. This is one thing that leaders often lack. They bring down the wrath in order to save their own prestige while destroying another man’s life. Our movies and novels abound with examples of such selfish leadership. We know this to not be right and are easily moved to hate the character, but in Lincoln, we see the example of a man with great shrewdness as he walked the fine line successfully. Such shrewdness of wisdom and timing are seldom seen in our current leaders.
Many more great characteristics were evident and brought out by Goodwin. As I read this book I kept thinking of this verse regarding Lincoln. “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.”[2] It would be good to see more men like honest Abe these days in leadership around the world. May we aspire to be one of them and slay the wicked vampires that would suck our integrity and render us as one of the walking dead.
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