Lincoln's Leadership

[LincolnMan]

Laurie: great subject! There are so many things that can be said about his leadership. I'm sure the members of this Forum will have much to say! One thing that comes to my mind at the moment is that he was a great listener-an active listener. He listened carefully to what others had to say-even when it was criticism against him or his decisions/policies. In doing so, not only did he gain a fuller understanding of things (potentially), but he sometimes changed his thinking with the new input. For instance, when he met with his Cabinet to introduce the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, he changed his mind on when to issue it based on Seward's comments that a better time to issue the document might be after a Union victory on the field-otherwise it might look like a desperate move from a failing war effort. Lincoln waited. Antietam served as the "victory" he needed-and the E.P. was issued in its wake. Great listening!