definitely helped to subdue the pain,
but the true relief came only when the
misaligned member eventually found its
way back to where it best belongs after
various stretching exercises and plenty of
rest for several days.
size, face similar issues as well. For an
organization to function properly, all its
components (in the form of key staff,
departments, initiatives, projects, etc.) must
be perfectly connected and coordinated.
Slightest misalignment can, and often
does, have an adverse impact on the
entire organization. For an organization
to achieve this perfection, it's the leader's
responsibility to identify a common goal,
recognize each person's value, and clearly
define and communicate roles. This is a
rather arduous task in an organization
with hundreds, thousands or perhaps
tens of thousands of members along with
just as daunting number of departments
and initiatives. The leader's role is made
even more difficult as getting everyone
marching to the same tune requires
effectively working with people with
various ways of thinking and doing things,
different philosophies and approaches, not
to mention dislikes, hidden agendas and
fractions amongst the team.
entire organization is an utmost important
role for its leader. An organization can and
will successfully get through its darkest
hour with proper leadership in place. The
true potential of an organization can only
be unleashed when everyone is marching
to the same tune.
leaders of all time, fully understood the
critical importance of this leadership
throughout his presidency. Lincoln's
remarkable ability to bring out the best in
people working toward a common goal,
despite numerous differences, enabled
him to get through one of the greatest
crises to face the nation the Civil War. It
is frightening to imagine how the U.S. and
perhaps the rest of the world would have
turned out today had another candidate
won the U.S. presidential election of 1860.
out the best in people is well-known. This
was especially evident in how he dealt
with those he worked with in the White
House. Many of them had contested
Lincoln for the presidency, and just
about all of them considered themselves
superior to the president in both intellect
and ability. Even for Lincoln, I imagine it
had to be pretty difficult at first being a
leader with so many unwilling followers.
According to the Pulitzer Prize winning
historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, who has
written a book on Lincoln's leadership,
Team of Rivals, "every member of his
administration was better known, better
educated, and more experienced in public
life than Lincoln." Because they had been
political adversaries and harsh critics,
Lincoln could have shut these people
out after winning the presidency and
becoming, essentially, their boss. That's
what most people expect and exactly what
most politicians do. Lincoln, however, did
just the opposite. He recognized each
individual's unique talents and knew each
person had something of value to offer.
He united his former rivals and initially
unwilling followers to lead the entire
nation through one of its most critical
moments. It is this very extraordinary
leadership talent which sets Lincoln apart
from other U.S. presidents.