2018: Book #13
“Schindler’s Ark” is a book written by author Thomas Keneally. When it became a screenplay and a movie, the name was changed to the the more familiar title of Schindler’s List. It’s one of my favorite all time movies. Keneally also wrote “Abraham Lincoln: A Life”. Excellent, and equally powerful.
Keneally’s book on Lincoln is the 13th book I’ve finished for 2018 and one of many that focuses on Lincoln as a leader. If you have been following my 2018 reviews, then you already know that Lincoln is becoming a leadership bedrock for me.
What’s great about this book, outside of it being an excellent read, is how it allowed me to grab hold of some new stories to use as leadership lessons.
Here’s how it helped me as a leader:
- Lincoln communicated clearly and often. That’s a reminder to me. The team needs to hear the mission and vision. They need to know how what they do helps to accomplish both. IT also reminds me of the importance of coaching and encouragement.
- Be careful in your hires. Lincoln had a string of horrible generals—McClellan, Meade, and Hooker for sure. He shouldn’t have made these men his leading military advisers. More importantly, he should have made a change in leadership faster than he did. Learn from Lincoln. Hire slow. Fire fast.
- Grow. Be willing to grow. Lincoln’s view of slavery was set, but how to address the slavery issue continued to morph and evolve. That’s leadership. He kept growing until he arrived at the right move.
- Do what is right no matter the cost. Lincoln knew freeing the slaves and defeating the South was the right thing to do. If the North didn’t defeat the South then the argument over slavery would continue. He knew the South had to be defeated to end the slavery issue.
That’s book #13.
5 out of 5 stars.
That’s book #13 for 2018.
39 more to go before hitting the goal of 52.
Remember, all leaders are readers.
If you want to be a better leader…be a reader.
#52in2018
