WHAT CAN PRESIDENT'S DAY TEACH US ABOUT COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP?    


As we celebrate President's Day, we recognize the virtues of two of our most honored leaders - George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. At first glance, these men might seem like absolute opposites, at least in terms of leadership style. But there is a quality that binds them (and indeed, binds all Americans) together - the spirit of collaboration.
 
At InCommons, we learn from others who have learned by doing, not unlike the early leaders of our country. There was no "road map" for modern representative democracy, but our founders had the confidence to lead - not simply by fiat or birthright, as it had been done in Europe for centuries, but because of their respect for the voices and opinions of others.    
 
Washington was renowned for being a tough, authoritarian general, so the notion of him joining hands in a circle and hearing his troops air their grievances might be laughable to some. But Washington's first and foremost concern as a leader was for the welfare of the United States. According to this2008 BusinessWeek article from University of North Carolina Professor Mark McNeilly, Washington was known for regularly asking his peers and advisors for guidance on important decisions, including his famous Delaware River crossing during the American Revolution.   
 
Lincoln was an entirely different kind of leader who relished the opportunity to learn from others. With very little formal education of his own, Lincoln relied on expert advice - some of it through books, and the rest through his well-educated friends - to make his toughest decisions, particularly during wartime. In fact, Lincoln was a pioneer in collaborative leadership, installing political opponents in key cabinet positions upon his election to the presidency in 1860. The men who historian Doris Kearns Goodwin termed Lincoln's "team of rivals" changed the course of U.S. history. 
 
The very nature of the presidency reflects our nation's aversion to strong, centralized leadership, which is one reason why presidential allies and advisors wield such great influence. Though history books may gloss over the names of the most influential White House collaborators, there is little doubt that those presidents who sought regular advice and counsel - from their cabinets, chiefs of staff or even their spouses - are the presidents we remember today as great leaders.  
 
Those less-than-successful leaders who stubbornly refused to seek consensus are consigned, as Ronald Reagan once noted, to the "ash heap of history." This must be why we don't often celebrate the contributions of Millard Fillmore or James Buchanan on President's Day. 
 
You certainly don't need to be President or even a small-town mayor to be a collaborative leader. Whether your leadership style more closely resembles Lincoln or Washington, Reagan or Kennedy, please share your stories about how you learned to be a better leader by listening to others. Who knows? Your advice may help pave the way for a future legendary leader. 

 
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CURE LISTENING SESSION - TUESDAY, FEB. 21     


West-Central Minnesota residents are gathering to discuss how to improve the quality of life in the Stevens County region at an open space listening session on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at the West Central Research and Outreach Center (46352 State Hwy 329, Morris) from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. This listening session is being co-sponsored by the Center for Small Towns and Clean Up the River Environment (CURE) in collaboration with InCommons.  

 

In addition, InCommons contributor Patrick Moore is hosting an online discussion about the power of open space listening sessions on InCommons.org. Please share your thoughts and experiences. 

 

MARCH PRESENCING GATHERING  


Want to see awareness-based collective action at work in Minnesota? Register for our March Presencing Gatheringto learn about emerging trends in organizational and social change, while sharing your expertise with others. On March 1 from 9:00 a.m. to Noon, we will continue to learn about prototypes and applications of Presencing in Minnesota, with the goal of strengthening the hub of people practicing collective action and pioneering a more sustainable, inclusive, and aware society.  

 

SHARE YOUR STORIES

 

The strength of the InCommons community comes from its members sharing credible tools, knowledge and resources to solve problems. That's why we need your input - please share your community problem-solving "best practices" with InCommons by submitting a blog post, sharing resources, attending a gathering or contributing to an online discussion. Together, we can create common solutions to extraordinary challenges. And remember, when it comes to sharing knowledge, the more you give, the more you'll get.