Executive Strategies for Tough Times

Lincoln on Leadership The book Lincoln on Leadership is divided into four major parts. The four aspects of leadership that the author was seeking to address comprises of the people, character, endeavor, and the communication. The author provided a discussion on each topic using about three to five chapters in each section. It is evident that principal aims of the author in every chapter were to communicate the leadership principles in the tough time.

However, during the time of writing the book, Lincoln had not been to any serious leadership position. According to his book, the many of the principles that are exhibited in his work are those that guided his behavior. His principles of leaders are influential, and I find them applicable in daily life. For example, Lincoln gives a discussion regarding the important of the character in managing and influencing the people. From Lincoln's perspective, it is essential for a good leader to be a risk taker, innovator, effective planner, and patient.

Much of the information in the book depicts the lifestyle of Lincoln. As seen from the American history, Lincoln was tough and demanding thus contradicting the qualities of a leader written in his book. However, the qualities of a good leader emphasized in the book are applicable and have influenced my leadership skills. I found his idea of being a risk-taker helpful during the time of crisis. For example, when I encounter challenges, I have learned to take risks and doing the extraordinary to solve the situation.

Although taking risk is detrimental to the progress of the business in some cases, the character has positively affected my performance as a leader. Lincoln showed that life is a risk, and making some risky but worthwhile risks is inevitable. For this reason, his ideas regarding taking risks during the tough time become relevant to every leader struggling to manage the organization in all situations. The other aspect of leadership that I found helpful is being innovative and living a character of a leader at all times.

As seen from the book, Lincoln emphasized the importance of an individual to exhibit the leadership qualities in all the times. he/she should invent new ways of solving the managerial problems before damages become irrecoverable. Notably, his belief regarding the ability of every other person innovates a solution to a problem is a motivation to everyone leadership. In My case, that has helped to realize my potential and the ability to exploit them all in leadership.

It is apparent from the works of Lincoln that people are important in promoting our leadership skills. Although Lincoln had not been in leadership when he penned down some of his ideas, he believed in working and learning from the people. Concerning his ideas, I have the learned the essence of working with the people I lead and learning from them. It appears that Lincoln lived by his words when tried for the presidency.