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Running Head: LINCOLN ON LEADERSHIP

A Critical Review of Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times Patrick DeMarchia American Public University MILS 122

Running Head: LINCOLN ON LEADERSHIP Donald T. Phillips, author of Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times, writes of the leadership styles and abilities of, the United States 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. Phillips book looks into the different key aspects portrayed by Lincoln in the 19th

Century and is intended demonstrate how be a good leader in todays world using the same skills as Lincoln did in the past. The book goes a great job at doing just that. Phillips gives precise detailed descriptions of skills and experiences of Abraham Lincoln and then describes further how they are still essential to becoming a good leader today. The book also successfully describes the traits and abilities so that they may be applied to both civilian and military leadership positions. Four major areas are discussed throughout the book: People, Character, Endeavor, and Communication. The division into these specific sections is great because they are indeed all very distinct from each other and when in a leadership position should all be focused on individually and equally. Throughout each section there are multiple chapters that further break down the four general subjects as to clarify on specific details essential to the main topics. This division of topics and subtopics helps the reader to follow what the author is trying to teach without overwhelming them with information that gets cluttered together. Phillips also included a table of facts at the end of each chapter of the different sections. These tables listed the crucial details Phillips intended for the reader to draw from his text. This allows those who may not pick up on each detail Phillips writes about to still learn the same lessons of those who do. In the first area of people, Phillips, focuses on the personal characteristics that helped Abraham Lincoln become one of the greatest leaders in US history. Chapter one focused on how President Lincoln was quite often seen with his troops. Lincoln saw the soldiers as the key to success in the civil war rather than politicians and took the times to show them how much

Running Head: LINCOLN ON LEADERSHIP appreciation he had for them. This earned him the respect of his troops and also gave him firsthand knowledge of situations at hand. Phillips further discussed in chapter one how Lincoln would stay in harsh environments at times along side his soldiers showing that he saw his

subordinates as equals rather as being below himself as many politicians seem to think in todays government. Chapters two and three focus on Lincolns tactics of building alliances and convincing others to follow him therefore furthering those alliances. Lincoln built his alliances by knowing his supporters personally and professionally. He made sure they each knew his plans and gained their support by convincing them rather than forcing them to agree. Phillips describes this leadership properly as it being the difference between being a leader and being a dictator. The section of people is well written, very descriptive, and has a flow that is simple to follow. The next area Phillips writes about is character. This section has three subsections just as the previous had. This section focused on characteristics that Lincoln displayed that are also key characteristic for a good leader to strive for as well. Phillips covers specifically the characteristics of honesty, integrity, kindness, and courage. Throughout the fourth chapter of the book we read about Lincolns integrity and honesty that earned him the name of Honest Abe. The other two chapters although separate I feel could have been put into one rather than split. While Phillips talks, in chapter five, of Lincolns tendency to being forgiving and show kindness when others make mistakes rather than be vengeful; he then continues in chapter six to discuss how one should be courageous enough to admit ones own mistakes and ask for forgiveness for those as well. Those two topics seem to flow better together in one chapter rather than two because also in chapter six Phillips discusses being able to accept constructive criticism which is separate topic completely for the previous topic of kindness and forgiveness.

Running Head: LINCOLN ON LEADERSHIP Section three on endeavors discusses the tactics of being decisive, leading while being led, setting goals then striving to meet them, determination, and innovation. Each of these

specific tactics is divided very well and this section, as a whole, is easy to read as well as follow. The chapters on decisiveness and determination could have possibly fit together if the author chose to, but feel better suited on their own. As with all of the previous text, these chapters as well described the ways each applied to Abraham Lincolns leadership strategy and then followed up with how to use them in modern society. Chapter ten, which focuses on determination, is particularly interesting because Phillips applies such an important leadership trait to the relationship between Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant. Reading of the time Lincoln spent and the multiple Generals Lincoln put into and removed from the positions before finding Grant who he felt was suitable for the job, was actually a delight. Many situations could be used to describe decisiveness and I am unsure why this chapter sticks out in my mind so much or why I enjoyed it more than others, however I do feel it great example and well-written chapter by Phillips. The final section covered by Phillips is communication. I actually dreaded this section because I thought it would be predictable in what would be covered since Abraham Lincoln is known for one of the most well known public speeches in United States history. Although in chapter 15 we do read about The Gettysburg Address, chapters 13 and 14 focus on Lincolns public speaking and conversational abilities outside of the famous speech. In chapter 13 Phillips uses the example of Lincolns Cooper Institute address to demonstrate the public speaking abilities of the president and discuss how future leaders could implement them. Chapter 14 focuses on Lincolns art of conversation both on personal and professional levels and how both are key to being a great leader and keeping you supporters as well as allies.

Running Head: LINCOLN ON LEADERSHIP Throughout the 179 pages of text, Phillips successfully lists and describes the key traits

and strategies that made President Lincoln one of our nations greatest leaders. He then goes one step farther to explain descriptively how to implement each and every one of them into professional leadership today no matter what the career may be. Military, Corporate, and even Small Business Leaders can all learn from the lessons taught throughout this book. Phillips book serves as an excellent teaching tool for anyone striving to become a great leader or improve him or herself to become greater than they are.

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