Gentle Persuasion
Lincoln on Leadership – Chapter 3
Getting back to “Lincoln on Leadership”, Lincoln lived on a philosophy of deep respect for his fellow humans. He felt that coercion, rather than persuasion, was akin to Dictatorship, which he abhorred. Lincoln led through openness and honesty. Lincoln felt that coercing another human being took away their dignity and the basic rights of the Constitution.
He did not hesitate to voice his opinion, but he always did it with respect. He went through a series of Generals. Lincoln practiced what he preached and lived. He expected his Generals to take initiative and LEAD. He delegated responsibility and expected follow-thru. Unfortunately he had a number of Generals who would not engage in aggressive battle with the Confederates. They would hesitate, and at times, not take action at all. Lincoln did not want the responsibility of leading his Army. He felt his responsibilities were with his elected office.
General George McClellan was accused of “deliberateness” (a.k.a. procrastination). Lincoln stood by him until it became apparent he was not willing to engage the enemy. Since Lincoln believed in persuasion, he never issued orders to his Generals. It was always suggestions. However, when he felt he had not other recourse, he relieved them of their command and appointed another General. Though Lincoln did not believe in coercing, he did believe in taking action.
In Network Marketing, we are about building “Know, Like and Trust”. That cannot be accomplished through coercion…..only persuasion. The fact is that even if you COULD force someone into joining you in your business, they would soon be “missing in action”, not returning phone calls and nowhere to be found. On the other hand, if we develop a relationship that provides a climate of trust, we are much more likely to have a prospect that is willing to do the work necessary to be successful. Persuasion is an art.
Lincoln’s Principles:
· When the occasion is piled high with difficulty, rise with it. Think anew and act anew.
· Don’t lose confidence in your people when they fail.
· Let your subordinates know that you are always glad to have their suggestions.
· If you never try, you’ll never succeed.
· Except in matters of broad policy, encourage subordinates to take action on their own initiative, without waiting for orders.
· Remember that the best leaders never stop learning.
· Surround yourself with people who really know their business, and avoid “yes” men.
· Be quick and decisive at employing new advances and make every attempt at getting new weapons into your soldier’s hands immediately.
Taken from “Lincoln on Leadership” by Donald T. Phillips
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Tags: Chapter 3, Climate, Coercion, Confederates, Constitution, Dictatorship, Dignity, Fellow Humans, General George Mcclellan, Generals, Gentle Persuasion, Honesty, Initiative, Lincoln, Lincoln On Leadership, Missing In Action, Network Marketing, Openness, Persuasion, Phone Calls, Procrastination, Recourse
