A reporter once said of Abraham Lincoln prior to his presidency, “His speaking went to the heart because it came from the heart. I have heard celebrated orators who could start thunders of applause without changing any man’s opinion. Mr. Lincoln’s great speech was of the higher type, which produced conviction in others because of the conviction of the speaker himself. ”These words are from Doris Kearns Goodwin’s new book, Leadership in Turbulent Times, which I am currently reading. If the remaining two-thirds of this book are as good as the first-third, this will go down as one of the best leadership books I will have ever read. It should be in the library of every leader. It is that good.
One of the leaders she profiles is the legendary United States president Abraham Lincoln. After a failed initial stint in Congress, a 32-year-old Abraham Lincoln entered into a deep depression. No longer in politics, he re-entered the legal profession. After a period of waiting, Lincoln returned to politics by making arguments in the House and assisting in congressional and presidential elections.
This interim period was not downtime. It was in intense time of personal reflection, evaluation and growth. Lincoln’s time arguing cases was a time for discipline to confront weaknesses and practices which kept him from achieving his goals and dreams. It was also a time to work on his craft as a communicator.
Lincoln became such a success in defending clients and making arguments before juries that his practice became the largest in central Illinois. By time he re-entered politics, Lincoln had become the country’s greatest communicator because of relentless self-evaluation and constant reps. He would become one of our America’s best communicators ever.
As mentioned in the opening quote, there is a difference between a strong speech and a transformative message that changes someone’s life. Lincoln learned the difference. You can as well.
