No U. S. President before or since has faced the leadership challenges of Abraham Lincoln. He did not have an auspicious life prior to his election. A modicum of success in his small Illinois law practice was in sharp contrast to a somewhat unsuccessful background in business and politics. Destined to lead be the active leader of the U.S. military in war, he had no real military experience. We're told his voice was a higher pitch than was normal for politicians and he was often described as "homely". Letting none of this bother him, he ran for election to the office at a time which when events seemed certain to spell the end of the union.

In Lincoln on Leadership, Donald T. Phillips masterfully captures Lincoln's leadership style with which he successfully re-united the country. Lincoln's presidency began in conflict as he was secreted into Washington amid threats to his life. The question of slavery had been festering since the days of the founding and Lincoln's predecessor, Buchanan, had all but given up trying to resolve the issue. By the inauguration of the 16th president, the die was cast and war was certain.

On to this national stage set for disaster stepped Abraham Lincoln with a unique and self-assured brand of leadership. To make his task even more difficult, he was not much respected by his cabinet. Phillips relates the story of Secretary of War Stanton, a detractor whom Lincoln turned into a friend and staunch supporter. Of course, Lincoln's difficulty with senior Army generals is the stuff of legend and Phillips skillfully relates Lincoln's process of giving them a fair chance to succeed but ultimately firing or pushing them aside when he was dissatisfied with their lack of aggressiveness.

Though sometimes to the distress of more seasoned politicians, he was known for his "tell it like it is" approach. He practically invented what we would come to know as "management by walking around." He regularly visited the Army in the field, ignoring the danger and once even receiving enemy fire. He took his job as Commander-in-Chief seriously, to the point of actually leading troops in the field, one of only two U.S. Presidents to do so. (The first was George Washington during the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794)

Phillips has divided his work into the various characteristics of leadership which Lincoln displayed. He has done excellent research and provides perfect examples of each characteristic. Turning to more modern times and well known management writers, he equates those lessons to today's corporate situations, showing how seamlessly the lessons of a century and a half ago apply to the contemporary world.

Each year hundreds of new leadership books hit the shelves and a good student of leadership should do their best to stay current with the latest offerings. But there are a few works which are classics in the field and deserve to be read and re-read. Lincoln on Leadership is such a book. In fact, as I re-read the book for this review, I realized that many of the leadership lessons I've learned through the years were written here. I must revisit this book more often! Certainly, Lincoln on Leadership is a book that every leader, whether seasoned or just starting out, should own read and cherish.

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