Week 5 - Lincoln on Leadership: Principles that Law Enforcement Leaders Can Apply to Today Law Enforcement Officer

Abraham Lincoln

This week we will continue our discussion of the type of leadership philosophy that is best suited for law enforcement.  Last week, if you recall, we discussed transformational leadership as a preferential and effective leadership attitude for police officers.  This week we will build on law enforcement leadership style and to Abraham Lincoln, or at least to Donald T. Phillips’ book, Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times.

Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times
Donald T. Phillips

Phillips (1992) presents the philosophy of the 16^th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, on leadership and the leader-follower relationship as Lincoln exhibited the attitude towards others.  Phillips (1992) provides leadership lessons and principles by presenting anecdotes and writing from Lincoln to various followers under his command; from cabinet members to commanding generals, Lincoln had a pearl of wisdom to offer.  Phillips (1992) explains:

Leadership is an elusive concept that, at times, can be vague and ambiguous.  As a result, there are no set rules or formulas for the leader to follow.  There are only guidelines and concepts, perceptions and ideas, abstractions and generalities.  This is why the art of leading people is so difficult to master and teach, and why there is such a great need for role models.  (Phillips, 1992, p. 3)

From here, I would like to review several of Lincoln’s Principles of Leadership, as presented by Phillips (1992) in his book:

Ø    Seek casual contact with your subordinates.  It is as meaningful as a formal gathering, if not more so. (p. 26)

As law enforcement officers, casual contact should be the product of an effective unit or team.  Never more so should this resonate with followers and leaders alike within these small units.  The intimate time that a leader shares with a subordinate can reveal many truths in a relationship of the two; truths in motivation; truths in goals; truths in devotion, truths in ambition; and truths in persuasion.  These truths can be revealed to either the leader or the follower, if each takes the time and if each is willing to commit to having casual contact with the other.  Out of these informal and intimate contacts becomes a supportive and effective leader-follower relationship that has it base founded in truth, honesty, devotion, and support.

Ø    Spend time letting your followers learn that you are firm, resolute, and committed in the daily performance of your duty.  Doing so will gain their respect and trust.  (p. 37)

As a law enforcement officer, the leader must present a fair and consistent example for their follower to see.  The model that the leader exhibits is the way that the subordinate will imitate when the subordinate undertakes the same task or duty.  Phillips (1992) argues that if the leader exhibits the desired actions by being the example, then the follower, knowing how the leader will act, settles on a decision consistent with the leader’s desire of adherence to the organization’s vision and without delay or hesitation and direction from the leader.  Northouse (2016) explains this concept in referencing Kouzes and Posner (1987, 2002) when he describes the concepts: (a) Model the Way, (b) Inspire a Shared Vision, and (c) Enable Others to Act.

Ø    A good leader avoids issuing orders, preferring to request, imply, or make suggestions.  (p. 48)

“Abraham Lincoln knew the value of making requests as opposed to issuing orders” (Phillips, 1992, p. 43).  Law enforcement leaders must understand and apply this attitude to today’s law enforcement officers.  Gone are the days of blind devotion and subordination as it was in the preverbal days of old.  As Phillips (1992) contends, the carrot and the stick method of persuasion are effective no longer with today’s officers.  To achieve compliance or buy in, the leader must exhibit sincere and genuine respect for respect to be given in return. 

Ø    When you make it to the top, turn and reach down for the person behind you.  (p. 57)

One of the fundamental tenets of transformation leadership is an individualized consideration or the action of the leader to be supportive, to be a coach, to be an advisor, and to ensure that their followers advance and mature into effective leaders themselves.  Law enforcement leaders must apply this principle in their leadership of other law enforcement officers; for the subordinates that one leads today, will be the leaders of tomorrow, carry the shared vision and perpetuating that vision.

Phillips (1992) presents Lincoln’s leadership philosophy through an eclectic arrangement of the 16^th President of these United States, by showing Lincoln in some of his most difficult and precarious situations during the time of the Civil War.  Lincoln deposits many pearls of wisdom on those he led, but in doing so, he influenced other to change the world, while he maintains command, yet treated those people that he encountered with respect and dignity.  Today’s law enforcement leaders in applying many of Lincoln’s Principles of Leadership could effectively change the world or at least the community in which they live.

References

Northouse, P. G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and practice (7th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.

Phillips, D. T. (1992). Lincoln on leadership: Executive strategies for tough times. New York: Grand Central Publishing.