Lincoln On Leadership – Chapter Seven

I’m currently reading the book Lincoln on Leadership. I wanted to share the chapter notes because they’re so good.

Chapter Seven – Be a master of paradox

• Make consistency one of the main cogs in the machinery of your corporation
• Remember that it is not best to swap horses when crossing streams
• Don’t surrender the game leaving any available card unplayed
• Do less whenever you believe what you are doing hurts the cause, and do more whenever you believe doing more will help the cause. Try to correct errors when they are shown to be errors; and adopt new views so fast as they appear to be true views.
• You must come to grips with the paradox of providing employee security while also encouraging  an environment for risk-taking
• When you are in deep distress and cannot restrain some expression of it, sit down and write out a harsh letter venting your anger. But don’t send it.
• Make no explanation to your enemies. What they want is a squabble and a fuss; and that they can have if you explain, and they can not have if you don’t.
• Avoid major conflict in the form of quarrels and arguments. You simply don’t have time for it.