It’s nearly April, and April is the usual time for spring cleaning at my house. Since the word “clean” has taken on a whole new meaning for all of us, I decided to really dig deeply into old dark corners to tidy up and truly sanitize. When moving some old picture frames and clay pots aside, I found a resource that I’d forgotten about. Published in 1992 and written by Donald T. Phillips, the little paperback Lincoln on Leadership is a profound, timeless reminder of the simple yet effective things we can do, not only in times of trouble, but every day to build confidence and loyalty among our employees. (And I found it on Amazon for as little as a quarter! Now that’s a bargain.)
It is rocky, unsettling economic territory for leaders today, so we owe it to ourselves to look back into history to learn from the Greats. (If Lincoln is too far back for you, Google the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill of 2010, Memorable Gulf Coast Hurricanes, or Johnson and Johnson and Tylenol in 1982. These examples of great leadership in times of crisis will inspire you to persevere). Consider this. “Only 10 days before Abraham Lincoln took office, the Confederate States of America seceded from the Union, taking Federal agencies, forts and arsenals with them.” What he did in response to become one of our most honored and revered presidents in history provides multiple valuable lessons for today’s leaders on how we too can build confidence and loyalty among our workforce during this time of the world-wide pandemic.
Four key lessons provide the backdrop for dozens of valuable tips that are totally relevant today. They include lessons on Working with People, Acting with Character, Taking Decisive Action and that ever popular, Communication.
As a leader, Be Accessible to Your People
Abe Lincoln was accessible to people. He believed that accessibility of the leader would build trust. When people know they genuinely have easy access to their leader, they’ll tend to view their leader as more trustworthy.
Amid the rapidly shifting coranvirus outbreak, how are you, as a leader, genuinely creating easy access to sustain and maintain trust? How are you gathering and listening to ideas and suggestions? Instead of sequestering himself as the top dog who knew all the answers, Lincoln formed successful alliances with others to bring the maximum amount of wisdom to bear in every situation. He was a good listener.
What methods are you using to maintain accessibility? Our President, David Boulay, hosts weekly team huddles as well as frequent open discussion forums, all through IMEC’s virtual networks. Although we are working from home, we have ample opportunities to feel connected. IMEC is also accessible to the state’s manufacturing community, through our 24/7 helpline and Manufacturer’s Forum.
As a Leader, Act with Character
Most of us are familiar with the phrase, “Honest Abe.” This lesson focuses on the importance of being honest, acting with integrity, articulating the values of the organization in visible, behavior-based terms, and showing compassion for others. From his earliest days as a shop keeper in New Salem, Illinois, Abe Lincoln developed a reputation for honesty and fairness. Employees who feel their leader is misleading them or withholding information from them begin to gossip and complain. In the absence of clear information, rumors circulate quickly, especially in challenging times like these.
As a leader, check in with yourself every day to determine whether or not you are holding to high standards. Remember, you are the key to pulling the organization toward hopeful outcomes, not spreading misinformation and fear. If you are attacked, and this is common simply by the virtue of the position you hold, do what Honest Abe did. Ignore attacks on your character or decisions, but hold fast to your sense of humor and “doing the right thing.”
Consider this. Many companies today are being asked to change their production processes and even the products they produce for the good of the whole. A strong leader of character demonstrates commitment to the good of the whole by helping the organization pivot to a higher and more immediate calling. People will follow you through the course of these changes when your reputation proceeds you.
Phillips sums it up when he says, “Any leader can learn from Abraham Lincoln’s standards. He had great confidence in his own competence and ability to perform. He was not insecure and did not feel threatened by others. He was also flexible, open-minded and willing to let his subordinates take the glory for their victories.”
As a Leader, Take Decisive Action
Even at a time in history when countless lives and the fate of the nation was at stake, Lincoln had the will and the ability to make tough decisions when necessary. He did not procrastinate or hesitate and therefore, his decisiveness enacted extraordinary change. Solid decision-making is a requirement of leadership, because the most well-crafted vision will be worthless without decisive action to accomplish it. When leaders waffle and postpone, valuable time is lost and competitors gain the edge. Be fair, but do it in a timely manner. “Sit back? Wait to see if someone else comes forward to handle the problem? Not so for Lincoln.”
This lesson also points out that Lincoln was a catalyst for change. He learned early in his Presidency that he’d have to rebuild and reorganize the government and its armed forces. Since we still do not know where the COVID-19 crisis will lead us and what the economic landscape will look like on the other side, we need leaders who are continually seeking innovative ideas to help contribute solutions. Lincoln was continually looking for ways to remake the system rather than resign himself to the problems and the flaws he knew about. Instead, he worked with his colleagues and others to find new solutions and create a climate of “risk-free entrepreneurship necessary to foster effective innovation.” What a much-needed quality today!
What actions are you currently taking to foster an environment of innovation and problem solving in your organization? Who is following your lead?
As a Leader, Communicate!
What book on leadership would be complete without a chapter on communication? When I ask front-line supervisors for the characteristics of effective leaders, “communication” is always at the top of the list. What a loaded word! What exactly does that mean? Phillips speaks to Lincoln’s abilities as a humble, but exceptionally effective public speaker and his ability to use words to create meaning and vision for his followers. Lincoln frequently used stories and anecdotes, colloquial expressions, symbols and imagery to persuade. Lincoln also moved others with more than just his words. He walked his talk. His actions mirrored what he said.
Instead of making a demand, Lincoln would relate a well-chosen story to persuade others. Sometimes he would tell stories or write letters to support and encourage others. When is the last time you wrote a hand-written note to a colleague to thank them for their hard work? Believe me, we all treasure these messages and hang onto them for many years. When it is all said and done, the coronavirus outbreak will provide many stories of resilience, agility, and acts of courage demonstrated by the workforce. As leaders, these can be our focus to inspire and motivate moving forward.
Wouldn’t it be a testament to resilience if after the COVID-19 crisis has passed, you can look at your employees and realize they are even more confident and more committed than they were before these events? Commit now to using these straightforward lessons from Abe Lincoln to help us get there.
Have questions and concerns? The Illinois Manufacturing Helpline has experts ready to answer questions and offer guidance through business disruptions.
