Lincoln’s Leadership: Were The Qualities Important For Victory?dership

Lincoln’s Leadership
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Institution
Lincoln’s Leadership
Describe Lincoln’s leadership abilities. How important were they for victory? Compare Lincoln to the Confederate president, Jefferson Davis.
There is no doubt in any one’s mind that President Lincoln was an able and exemplary leader. This is a known fact, and the popularity of his leadership skills still linger more than a century ago after he passed. Lincoln found himself as the leader of a country which was experiencing its worst and deepest political crisis. However, he managed to find a way to not only forge a clear path forward but to also do so in style.
Lincoln’s Leadership Abilities
Lincoln’s leadership was and still is revered, and leaders from all facets of the society often refer and copy his style. One of his greatest qualities which set him apart was his ability to entertain opposing views. According to Doris Kearns (2005), Lincoln was a good listener and always entertained the thought of several viewpoints before he made his final decision. Coutu (2009) adds that Lincoln embraced the habit of appointing his political rivals in his cabinet because he believed they would not simply agree with what he said. He looked for people who would challenge his leadership and not simply go with the flow. Larson (2017) adds that “he created a climate where Cabinet members were free to disagree without fear of retaliation.” He, therefore, never lacked in ideas and always got the best out of his Cabinet members.
Another quality Lincoln had was his ability to communicate articulately. Crowley (2012) and the McClarie Group (2017) both agree that Lincoln was indeed a master and thoughtful communicator. Every time he spoke, the American people felt assured of his priorities to lead them past anything that seemed retrogressive. The McClarie Group reports that he always managed to “artfully wove his vision for a free America with the priorities of his countrymen.”
Finally, Lincoln was also a person who had mastered his emotions. Every leader has their share of mental suffering and at times breakdowns. However, regardless of the pressure, Lincoln felt, he managed always to steer his aggression or anger elsewhere. According to Doris Kearns (2005), Lincoln would often write “hot letters” to those he was angry with and then set it aside and refuse to send them. H...