Corporate Leadership

Leadership lessons From Abraham Lincoln

By naren@hybreed.co . February 22, 2019

“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.” – Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, is often revered not just as a political icon, but as a leadership role model whose legacy continues to inspire generations. In our experience facilitating leadership development programs, we have often drawn upon Lincoln’s story to reflect on the timeless qualities that define great leaders: vision, persistence, emotional strength, humility, and the ability to lead during adversity.

While most know Lincoln for leading the United States through the Civil War and abolishing slavery through the Emancipation Proclamation, there is much more to explore beneath the surface. His leadership style has much to offer to today’s leaders, especially those operating in increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environments.

Why Is Persistence Important for Leadership?

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In the realm of corporate leadership, there are many desirable traits: honesty, integrity, innovation, decision-making skills, and effective communication. But if there’s one characteristic that holds them all together, it’s persistence. In our work with organizations across industries, we’ve noticed that leaders who stand out consistently are the ones who remain unfazed by failure, who see adversity not as a wall but a stepping stone.

Abraham Lincoln’s life is a masterclass in persistence. From a series of early business failures to multiple electoral defeats, he never gave up. That grit and tenacity ultimately saw him rise to the highest office and lead the nation through its darkest hour.

Related Reading: 10 Essential Leadership Qualities

Lessons for Modern Leaders

Below are some tips that can help leaders learn the skills of persistence and perseverance.

1. Never Display ‘I’m Giving Up’ Attitude

In our coaching conversations with senior leaders, we often hear them speak about pressure, failure, and the temptation to throw in the towel. But the leaders who inspire us most are the ones who keep going even when things seem insurmountable. Like Lincoln, they understand that the path to success often involves difficult terrain.

One of our program participants once shared how she faced intense resistance while trying to implement a new change initiative. Her team was skeptical, her peers were indifferent, and upper management wasn’t fully convinced. But her persistence paid off. Her project not only took off, but also became a model replicated in other divisions.

It reminded us of Lincoln’s own experiences—he failed in business, lost elections, and faced public ridicule, yet he pressed on.

Related Reading: 100 Inspirational Quotes on Leadership

2. Have a Clear Vision and Communicate It Often

One of Lincoln’s defining leadership traits was his ability to clearly articulate a compelling vision. The Gettysburg Address, one of the shortest yet most powerful speeches in history, encapsulated his vision for equality and unity. We’ve observed that when leaders articulate a vision clearly and consistently, it becomes a north star for the team.

In leadership workshops we facilitate, we encourage leaders to take time to reflect on and articulate their vision – not just for the organization, but for themselves and their teams. Vision is what sustains motivation when immediate results are hard to come by.

3. Cultivate Resilience Through Adversity

Lincoln’s journey was marked by personal and professional loss. Yet he remained composed and hopeful, never allowing despair to define him. This kind of resilience is something we find essential in today’s leadership landscape.

Especially post-pandemic, the demand for emotionally intelligent and resilient leaders has increased dramatically. In our experience, those who foster daily habits to manage their stress and reflect deeply are better able to stay grounded during storms.

We once worked with a mid-sized tech company going through a merger. The anxiety levels were high, and trust was eroding. What helped their leadership team hold the company together was an intentional effort to focus on team communication, emotional safety, and above all, modeling resilience. They borrowed from Lincoln’s playbook – by remaining empathetic, transparent, and composed.

4. Master the Art of Listening

One of Lincoln’s lesser-known but powerful traits was his ability to listen. His leadership cabinet often had differing opinions. In fact, many historians refer to it as a “Team of Rivals.” But Lincoln chose to include those who disagreed with him, because he valued diverse viewpoints. We find this particularly instructive for leaders managing cross-functional or remote teams.

In our L&D interventions, we emphasize that leaders don’t need to have all the answers—but they must be willing to listen. Listening is a trust-building behavior. And trust, we have found, is the foundation of all effective leadership.

5. Walk the Talk

Lincoln is remembered not just for what he said, but for how he lived. His integrity was never in question. He lived his values, which is why people believed in him. As we often remind participants in our programs, leadership is not about title or designation – it’s about influence. And influence is built by consistently modeling the behaviors you expect from others.

We recall one senior leader who consistently prioritized employee well-being over quarterly targets. Her actions built immense credibility and loyalty in her team. Much like Lincoln, she didn’t lead from above, but from among.

Related Reading: 100 Insightful Quotes on Influence

6. Stay Humble

Despite holding the highest office in the land, Lincoln was known for his humility. He never considered himself above others, and that humility made him approachable. In our team facilitation sessions, we often find that leaders who stay humble create psychological safety for others to step up, share openly, and take initiative.

One of the most common roadblocks to effective leadership that we’ve noticed is ego. But humility, as Lincoln demonstrated, is not weakness. It is quiet strength that leaves space for others to shine.

The L&D Takeaway: Building Leadership from the Inside Out

Abraham Lincoln’s story offers valuable lessons not just for political leaders, but for corporate professionals navigating their own leadership journeys. At FocusU, we believe that leadership development is an inside-out process. It begins with self-awareness and deepens through habits, mindset, and lived behaviors.

In our experience:

Leaders who are persistent become dependable.
Leaders who articulate vision become inspirational.
Leaders who cultivate resilience become anchors during chaos.
Leaders who listen deeply build inclusive cultures.
Leaders who act with humility inspire followership.

Leadership is not a one-time act; it’s a journey of continuous evolution. And Lincoln reminds us that the true test of a leader is not in moments of comfort, but in times of crisis.

Final Thoughts

Abraham Lincoln once said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” That’s what leadership is ultimately about. In today’s ever-changing world, the ability to lead with conviction, character, and compassion will set the exceptional leaders apart from the rest.

As learning professionals and facilitators, we encourage all leaders—current and aspiring—to reflect deeply, take ownership of their development, and remain steadfast even when the path isn’t clear. As Lincoln’s life shows us: great leadership is forged not in comfort, but in the fire of adversity.

Let us all continue to learn, grow, and lead from within.