3 Lessons on Leadership

How Abraham Lincoln worked with his political Rivals

On November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln is elected the 16th president of the United States.

But not long after, 7 states leave the Union.

And to make matters worse Southern rebels attack Fort Sumter. Lincoln’s first days as president are marked staring the down the barrel of civil war.

Yet he appoints his political rivals to his cabinet.

Lincoln’s unexpected Rise to Presidency

Lincoln was not too politically successful before the 1860 election.

He was the prairie lawyer from Illinois. Ran for Illinois state legislature and lost. Two years later, he was elected to the state legislature as a member of the Whig party, where he announced his disdain for slavery. 16 months of speaking over North America, his debate with Stephen Douglass, and groundwork with helping other politicians helped him secure victory in the presidential election.

Lincoln’s achievements as a lawyer were small and his political victories even smaller.

His Rivals were seasoned politicians with stellar track records:

• William Henry Seward was an expert in the political arena with his rousing senate speeches making headlines across the country.
• Salmon Chase was the great “trailblazer” for the anti-slavery cause and fought against the Fugitive Slave Act.
• Edward Bates was a veteran from the war of 1812 and was responsible for establishing the constitution of Missouri.

How did Lincoln win?

His rivals were too confident and made enemies in their party. Lincoln stayed firm. He built his career by being helpful and making friends wherever he went with persistence, humor, and magnanimity.

Over time, Lincoln won because he established a rapport of honesty, integrity, and humility.

From Rivals to Allies:

Lincoln appointed his political rivals to his cabinet.

His strategy was clear: pick the most qualified men for the job regardless of political party affiliation.

He turned to his rivals. Lincoln’s explanation at the time was that these were the strongest men in the country. He declared that at a time of peril, the country needed to have the strongest men, and that he couldn’t deprive it of those talents.

First, Lincoln selected former Republican Party rivals for three of the most important cabinet positions:

• Missouri’s elder statesman Edward Bates became the Attorney General.
• Senator William H. Seward of New York became the Secretary of State.
• Governor Salmon P. Chase of Ohio became secretary of Treasury.

Next, Lincoln appointed former Democrats to build bipartisan support: Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles, Postmaster General Montgomery Blair, and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton.

Lincoln wasn’t perfect. When Fort Sumter was attacked, he tried sending reinforcements, but conflicting orders were given, and the plan failed spectacularly. He took full accountability and blame.

When the Emancipation Proclamation sat on his desk on July of 1862, Lincoln wanted to announce it immediately, but Secretary of State Seward cautioned against it. The Union had been suffering humiliating defeats and morale was low. They needed a substantial victory before announcing the proclamation or else it’ll look like a last-ditch effort by the dying Union.

Throughout his presidency, his colleagues marveled at Lincoln’s magnanimous nature, willingness to accept responsibility, ability to forgive others for their faults, and listen to different perspectives than his own.

So how can I apply this in my life?

Lesson 1: Aiming to be the most helpful.

I love the story of his initial political rise. His opponents were seasoned politicians and had enemies. Instead of falling into a similar trap, Lincoln aims to be the most helpful. I think that’s important for anyone on a team — leader or not. Aim to be the most helpful.

Integrity, compassion, humility are qualities I see get squashed in movies by the tough good guy. The person with these qualities gets pushed around by the world.

But in reality, these qualities get you further than steamrolling everyone in your path. This doesn’t mean Lincoln was a pushover. He was proactive in getting things done.

Lesson 2: Open Lines of Communication

His political team gave him different perspectives in navigating the policies, but he went further.

Each time he visited battlefields, he made sure to have meaningful conversations with soldiers. He even held meetings at the White House with soldiers and listened to each request and attempted to solve each problem no matter how small.

He treated everyone as individuals rather than members of a group and listened to them.

Lesson 3: Mission ahead of Ambition

Especially in politics, it’s easy to view everything as a status game and aim for the next rung of power, but Lincoln saw it differently.

Lincoln understood the bigger picture of preserving the union. He implemented measures regardless of its popularity. When then General Ulysses S. Grant needed 300,000 more troops, Lincoln initiated a draft. This is before the 1864 election where Lincoln would run for a second term. The draft was unpopular and could destroy his chances of a second term. However, Lincoln pressed forward, stating “what is the presidency to me if I have no country.”

His political career didn’t matter if the country dissolved.

Lincoln’s choice to appoint his rivals to his political cabinet was useful to survive the Civil War and provided lessons on leadership which still echo today.