Lessons from Abe

As an educational leader I’ve always looked for great books to read and great people in which to listen.  This thought takes me to Abraham Lincoln.  In terms of past Presidents, more has been written about Abe Lincoln than any other individual.  Having read a lot about “Honest Abe,” I’ve narrowed the information to three “principles” that we can use as “Principals” in our buildings:

1.       You must Persevere
I have a wall hanging in my office with Lincoln’s picture and the title “Perseverance”.  It goes on to list several failures, both personal and professional, that Lincoln had prior to becoming the 16^th President of the United States.  Even after becoming President, his persistence in keeping to his convictions about abolishing slavery and holding the Union together were imperative to the ultimate success of those goals. 

 

As building level administrators, we have to persevere in order to be successful on many fronts.  We can’t abandon our beliefs and core values because of short term losses or failures.  We have to make difficult decisions every day and sometimes those decisions involve sticking with unpopular programs or innovations that we believe to be in the best interest of our students.  Gather all the information you can, determine the best solution and then make a decision without wavering!

 

2.      You must be Humble
Lincoln could never be justifiably accused of having an ego.  If you are familiar with Team of Rivals, you are aware that Lincoln appointed four of his biggest political rivals to his cabinet.  Not because they were his rivals, but because they were the best and most able people in the country, and he didn’t feel like he “had the right to deprive the country of their services.”  He was willing to listen to opinions that were not like his.  Lincoln didn’t want to surround himself with “yes men.”

 

Abraham Lincoln was also insistent on making himself available to the public.  He kept regular office hours and citizens were allowed to see him.  He often took suggestions from the public on policy issues that would help him “massage” his ideas into ones that could be sold to the congress and the public at large.

 

Working in education, we cannot pretend to have all the answers.  We need to  seek advice from a variety of sources; other administrators, our own faculty, as well as, students and parents.  We need to listen intently to the stakeholders involved in our school improvement meetings and try to implement change that we all agree will improve our school.  We must be willing to accept the fact that great ideas can come from the most unlikely of sources.

 

3.      You must be willing to Forgive.
“With malice toward none, with charity for all” Abraham Lincoln was insistent about welcoming the southern states back into the Union without seeking to destroy their proud heritage.  He believed this was the only way to heal the nation.  He believed that if you crushed a man, you would make him, and his friends, permanent enemies of your organization.

 

Educators often find themselves in confrontational situations, and administrators, probably more so.  Tempers get heated, people say things they don’t mean and feelings get hurt.  Forgive.  In our education world, if you make one enemy, that turns into ten very quickly.  Whether it’s a teacher, a student, a parent or a community member, you must work to mend fences quickly and forgive those who have wronged you.  It’s not easy, but it’s a tremendously empowering act that will help you improve in your ability to lead.

I would like to urge you to continue in your professional development as a leader.  Don’t hesitate to use the past to help you become a better leader and to make a positive impact on people today and for years to come.