How to Collaborate with Rivals is one of the greatest of challenges for any of us with an ounce of ego, by Peter Klinge, Jr.
I finished reading Team of Rivals the Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln from Doris Kearns Goodwin.
It’s incredible how President Lincoln managed to lead a team of contentious, highly skilled and competent men, not to mention the influence of some extraordinary women, and seekers of office and patronage.
His character bore up even in the face of personal family tragedy from his childhood to his own children, and the immense loss of life and disruption due to the Civil War.
I just shook my head in contemplating the temperament of Lincoln to constantly rise above the criticism, slights, hurts, and competing agendas of others.
He possessed an incredible will and balanced humor that kept him from becoming vindictive or dictatorial. But he was no rube or naive about his situation. In this regard he was a political genius, and a thoughtful and masterful policy thinker.
The Lincoln portrayed by the Ms. Goodwin’s narrative seems to be a true saint.
A standard by which it’s hard to imagine any other leader with a command and style could ever possess.
President Lincoln wanted and needed the very best, capable people to help an imperiled, divided Union. He needed a team of rivals who would help inform his critical thinking skills to make the best decisions he could with the best minds and skills available. Even if this included people from different parties, regions, points of view, or individuals who opposed him he was determined.
Often underestimated in the early months of his first term he ultimately got his team aligned around a singular and common purpose to preserve the Union.
Despite the time and context, there are some practical nuggets from Lincoln we can apply and exemplify in leadership to our businesses:
- Before making judgements, be in possession of the facts, and consider the opinion of others;
- Suspend your own personal filter of feelings towards others, and pay attention to the central idea;
- Turn the issues around by asking critical questions from all sides;
- Create alignment among competing ideas by having others defend the logic of their point of view. Or be willing to concede a point to others based on the logic of facts;
- Be humble and maintain a sense of humor about yourself and others to avoid over reacting;
- Take criticism constructively without allowing it to penetrate you too deeply personally;
- Be magnanimous in praise and credit to others while gentle in criticism to engender good will.
Peter Klinge, Jr. is an executive leader focused upon helping companies achieve their desired growth potential. Peter frequently contributes growth ideas and to LI, and twitter.
