12 Lessons from Lincoln on Leadership

photo credit: josullivan.59 Lincoln Memorial #2 via photopin (license)

One week ago marked the 205th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth on February 12th.  On Monday, I was able to celebrate a day off for President’s Day.  So, it is fitting that we turn to Donald T. Phillips’ book, Lincoln on Leadership.  In the book, Phillips provides “executive strategies for tough times.”  It’s a quick read that really touches at the core of leadership and the man who exemplified the subject best, Abraham Lincoln.

Donald T. Phillips does a nice job of extracting the jewels of leadership wisdom by analyzing the historical events, including Lincoln’s writings and actions from his time in office.

The contents of the book are presented in four parts:  People; Character; Endeavor; and Communication.  Throughout the book, we see the extraordinary attributes of an American legend.  Abe’s honesty, integrity, and tenacity are all characteristics that should be mimicked by those of us who call ourselves students of leadership…who are shooting for the stars!

Click here to read more about the 12 lessons I gleaned from Lincoln on Leadership and how I’ve applied those lessons over the years.

Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing

The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. - Stephen Covey

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (The Message):  What do you think God expects from you? Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road he sets out for you, love him, serve God, your God, with everything you have in you, obey the commandments and regulations of God that I’m commanding you today—live a good life.

For Week 7, the NIV Leadership Bible focuses on obedience to God.  As a disciple of Jesus Christ, that is my “main thing.”

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible has a lot to say about obedience.  Our Pastor is currently leading a 40-week study of the Ten Commandments, as we celebrate our 40th anniversary as a church.  We’re in the midst of a 4-week study about the First Commandment–having “no other gods” before our God.  Through the Ten Commandments, we see how important the concept of obedience is to God.  According to Holman’s Bible Dictionary, biblical obedience is “to hear God’s Word and act accordingly.”

Deuteronomy 11:26–28 sums it up like this:  “Obey and you will be blessed.  Disobey and you will be cursed.”

Click here to explore three examples of obedience to God.