Leadership in Time of Conflict and Change

Today we celebrate Presidents Day especially remembering George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Both were great leaders at crucial times in our nation’s history. Washington led the nation in its infancy bringing together 13 colonies- new sovereign states- to form a union. Moving from monarchy to democracy – from separate colonies to a unified nation was no easy task. Lincoln had to lead a divided nation in the midst of a major conflict.

Leading in a time of change and conflict is difficult to say the least. John Kotter, former Harvard Business School Professor, writes there are  key factors in leading in a time of crisis and change. In such times, a leader needs to remain focused on the goal. Both Washington and Lincoln were focused on the goal of  ‘united states’ in America.

Both Washington and Lincoln knew there was as urgency about their task; waiting too long would result in failure to unite or reunite a nation. While both were  strong individuals, they  knew how to build a team around them.  Lincoln did care for some of his generals personally, but he knew they were great military leaders and could win battles. Both men empowered their team to use their skills to mold a nation

Lincoln and Washington had a vision for a strong nation based on democratic principles and both would help to communicate that vision to the people as Lincoln did so masterfully in the Gettysburg Address. (I recently viewed a documentary on Lincoln that detailed how he used the technology of his day – the newspapers- to articulate his views as he ran for the Republican nomination. The press would print his speeches so that thousands read what only a few hundred would hear him say in person- his Tweet/Facebook.)

Generating short term wins helps people to believe in the direction you are leading.  Washington had to confront the Whiskey Rebellion in order to establish the right of the federal government to tax.

Both leaders would not let up. They fought the temptation to give into the negative and remained focused on their mission. They worked to make the change stick. Before he was assassinated, Lincoln already was working on ways to bring the southern states back into the fold of the union—something that many resisted and almost caused the successful   impeachment of Andrew Johnson.