Abraham Lincoln was born Feb 12, 1809, in a single-room log cabin, Hardin County, Kentucky. His family upbringing was modest; his parents from Virginia were neither wealthy or well known. At an early age, the young Abraham lost his mother, and his father moved away to Indiana. Credited with freeing the slaves, Abraham Lincoln remains a timeless figure in American history and will forever be known as one of the greatest presidents to ever hold office.
“A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half-slave and half-free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved – I do not expect the house to fall – but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.” – Abraham Lincoln
Find his 5 leadership lessons below and why they work and how they can make you a better leader.
Lesson 1: Communicate Effectively
Great leaders have the ability to communicate their areas of passion. Abraham Lincoln knew to emotionally connect and build forging bonds with people, excellent communication was key. Outside of Lincoln’s predecessor Andrew Johnson, Lincoln had the least amount of formal education (1 year) of any President.
Instead, he educated himself constantly, even to the point where he would carry a pocket Shakespeare and bring it out in between meetings. This was a man who read everything from Aesop Fables, poetry, and much more.
He knew his audience read the Bible, he knew what phrases would resonate.
Much of Lincoln’s success throughout the story was due to his ability to communicate and connect with others. The iconic US president was a renowned storyteller, who could get his audience involved in his stories and vision of his projects. To be a leader is essential to establish oneself as a good communicator and know how to convey messages clearly.
Lesson 2: Never Give Up
Lincoln was defeated over seven times before finally being elected to President of the United States. While he did have some success in between those defeats, it is clear that had Lincoln gave up earlier in his career, this nation as we know it may very well not even exist today.
As you face setbacks in life, think of the example of Abraham Lincoln. From humble roots he rose to hold the most powerful position in the land, only to face perhaps the toughest choices a President of this land has ever had to make.
Lesson 3: Don’t Take Things Personally
Lincoln was hard to offend even when the offense was warranted. For example, consider the brashness of General McClellan, who once kept Lincoln and secretary of state William Seward waiting in his parlor until he decided he wasn’t up for visitors and went to bed.
Likewise, when cabinet member Salmon Chase undermined Lincoln and sought in vain to replace him on the Republican ticket in 1864, Lincoln shrugged off Chase’s ambitions, saying, “He has the White House fever.” Not only did he choose not to begrudge Chase’s antics, Lincoln later recommended him for the Supreme Court as Chief Justice.
Lesson 4: Stick to your convictions
Contrary to most politicians, Lincoln was no flip-flopper. In the 1840s, Lincoln decided his position on slavery was that it should remain untouched where it currently existed but that it should not be allowed to spread. He maintained this philosophy while shifting from the Whig party to the new Republican party, and he maintained it all the way until he issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862. Had the Civil War not been as disastrous as it was, he might never have changed his position in public.
Lesson 5: Tell a Story and Paint a Picture.
Lincoln’s oratorical skills are legendary, but not everyone in his day was impressed. Many thought he was a hick, a country “railsplitter” from Illinois who wouldn’t amount to much as president.
But Lincoln knew the power of a story. That’s why his speeches are full of analogies, pictures, and anecdotes. Being a “commoner” was a badge of honor that helped him communicate to the men who gave their lives on the battlefield, the families who buried their young, and the slaves who desired their freedom.
Lincoln had plenty of practice in story-telling. His humor is well-documented by his contemporaries. He kept his kids up at night with tales of adventure. Though pictures often show him looking dour and depressed, the real Lincoln was a jovial man who knew the power of a story.