Great Reads
I am re-reading a book for the fourth time. The first three times I read it in-depth. And now I find myself reading it again. It may be worth your attention as well as it explains, from real life, the value of leadership and teamwork.
The book is Doris Kearns Goodwin‘s “Team of Rivals.” It’s the story of Abraham Lincoln, his ascension to the presidency, and the manner in which he built a cabinet during one of the most challenging periods of our country‘s history: the Civil War. What’s fascinating about Lincoln is that he assembled a group of people, for the most part, who didn’t either like him and/or didn’t respect him. And they didn’t like each other either. Can you imagine that today? A room full of people that really don’t like or respect each other but you have to do a big job as one unit?
Goodwin’s account discusses the important aspects of Lincoln’s aspirations as a leader in bringing the best and brightest people into the room and forcing them to define communal experiences and common ground to build relationships that would alter the course of our country’s history. Some had big egos. Some were more difficult to deal with. Somewhere just pains in the neck. But all have something to offer that Lincoln knew would be critical to the larger effort of saving the country.
The lesson in the book is that talent and great leadership skills assembled together in a group of people with similar aspirations can change the world. For us, maybe it’s “the world” that is just your community. The risk is that if you don’t have great leadership and a lot of talent, you end up with fractured elements of power and no central/common direction. Tremendous leadership without supporting and collaborative talent is a limiting factor because one person can only do so much.
If you haven’t read it, I’d highly recommend it. Think about how your team operates. Do you have the talent that’s necessary to execute the plan? And are you a good enough leader or is there strong leadership to keep that talent moving toward that common hopeful success? If you have read it and are wondering if it’s worth it again, trust me it is. The fourth time through and I’m still learning from one of our great American historical leaders.
