Lincoln and Leadership

“Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.” ~ Abraham Lincoln

Welcome back to the third of my blogs on historical leadership! This time, let’s talk about one of the most legendary figures in American history—Abraham Lincoln. We all know the iconic image: the self-taught lawyer, the great orator, the president who held the nation together through its darkest days. But Lincoln’s story is more complex than just myth and legend. His leadership was forged in hardship, doubt, and trial by fire.

He wasn’t born into privilege. Far from it. Raised in the backwoods of Kentucky, Lincoln had little formal education, but he had an insatiable love of learning. He taught himself grammar, math, and law—all while working hard to pull himself out of poverty. That determination carried him all the way to the White House.

But here’s the thing—when Lincoln became president in 1860, he wasn’t exactly a beloved leader. He won with less than half of the popular vote (39.8%) and didn’t get the support of a single southern state. His intelligence was doubted. His character was questioned. And then, just weeks after taking office, the country was at war with itself. From day one, he was leading through crisis - and yet Lincoln had never administered anything larger than his two-person law office!

And let’s be real—he didn’t have it all figured out. He made mistakes. He faced enormous pressure to compromise, to take the easy way out. But he didn’t. Instead, he doubled down, learning everything he could about military strategy and leadership, stepping fully into the role of Commander in Chief with no clear roadmap to follow.

What’s most remarkable about Lincoln isn’t just what he accomplished—it’s how much he changed. In 1860, his goal was simply to restore the Union, even if it meant allowing slavery to continue in the South. By 1864, that was no longer an option. Abolishing slavery had become a moral and political necessity.

So, what can we take away from Lincoln’s leadership? That resilience matters. That leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about learning, adapting, and standing firm when it counts. And that sometimes, the biggest transformations happen not just in a nation, but in the leader guiding it.

What do you think? What stands out most about Lincoln’s leadership to you?

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(Note: Below are 3 quotes by Abraham Lincoln in support of leadership.)

“I find quite as much material for a lecture in those points wherein I have failed, as in those wherein I have been moderately successful.”

“I planted myself upon the truth, and the truth only, so far as I knew it, or could be brought to know it.”

“I think it cannot be shown that when I have once taken a position, I have ever retreated from it.”