As ridiculous as it sounds, Abraham Lincoln would have made one hell of an ad agency creative director.
If you’re looking for the perfect role model in running a creative democracy, look no further than 1861. (Though you may want to ditch the stove pipe hat and the funky beard.)
If the man could save a flailing democracy and stitch together a country that had completely torn apart, he could certainly manage your silly little creative team and solve your measly little problems.
Why? Lincoln was a truly egoless leader.
Imagine Honest Abe sitting in a conference room full of product managers, designers, salespeople, technologists, market strategists, even procurement officers facing the headwinds of stiff competition, slumping YOY sales, a tired brand and a deflated stock price. Bah! Child’s play.
The culture he created during the Civil War, from his innermost circles to Congress to an entire nation, was a direct reflection of his personality. Lincoln was not only known for his honesty, but also for his humility, resilience, fairness and courage. The man even had a sense of humor. Lincoln was a skilled communicator and incredible listener who easily connected with individuals but could also inspire an entire country.
Lincoln wasn’t consumed by his own ego, his immense Presidential power or even his own political agenda. He was consumed with preserving the Union. He was consumed with building consensus and unity. He was consumed by doing that through a thoroughly democratic process, one that empowered everyone in his administration to contribute to the greater good.
And when things went well, he gave others all the credit. But when things turned to complete shit, he shouldered the blame. Lincoln was egoless to his core.
To many historians, Lincoln’s superpower was empathy.
That “superpower” became the foundation of his political success. Understanding diverse perspectives. Comprehending people’s motivations, fears and desires. Deescalating tense situations. Turning enemies into allies.
There is no better example of Lincoln’s egoless leadership than how he built his Cabinet.
He needed to understand firsthand the political factions within the Union Party. So, he chose the best people possible, even if that meant his fiercest political enemies - some who ran against him in the 1860 Presidential race. Lincoln called them his “team of rivals:” Attorney General Edward Bates, Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase and Secretary of State William H. Seward. The President famously said, “I destroy my enemies when I make them my friends.”
It would have been a hell of a lot easier to fill a cabinet with yes men, but Lincoln believed that narrow viewpoint would lead the country to failure.
With immediate access to a wide range of opinions and political perspectives, he was able to forge a truly united front against the Confederacy. Only an extraordinary leader could’ve pulled it off. Lincoln did so by building an indomitable democratic culture. He did it with common purpose. With inclusion. With conflict and diplomacy. And by giving everyone a voice and a vote. In his own words, “Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves.”
In the end, his rivals ended up not only respecting him but loving him. Lincoln’s egoless leadership was the brilliant light that led the country to peace.
Secretary Seward wrote, “The President is the best of us."