Leaders: Lessons for Navigating Conflict in 2023

Photo by Ali Elliott on Unsplash

When people talk about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, they often refer to the successful presidential influence these leaders had on the United States. Both presidents led our country through the two most influential wars in our early history. Washington fought as a general to gain our independence and was later elected president to build our newly formed nation. Lincoln served our country in the legal system until he too became president and led our country through a terrible civil war.

Being a leader in today’s workforce can easily feel like being a general in the middle of a war. Common battle cries in the last few years revolve around quiet quitting, higher salaries, and remote work opportunities. Leaders are caught trying to accommodate their team while balancing company finances, navigating mass resignations, and operating under-staffed. As Washington and Lincoln led armies and a nation through war, leaders can also lead their teams through the conflicts to come in 2023.

First, Washington and Lincoln teach leaders to commit to their cause.

No critic can question the commitment Washington and Lincoln demonstrated throughout their wars. The physical, mental, and emotional sacrifices and stresses they faced are just a few reasons why they are considered two of the most influential presidents in United States history. 

If you’re a business owner, your company is your livelihood and therefore you will have the highest level of commitment to your cause. If you are a part of the leadership team, you should have some level of commitment to the company’s values and overall goals. You should demonstrate the desire and drive required to achieve companywide success. 

A great leader does not act like a taskmaster driven by an obsession for personal success. A great leader must effectively communicate the vision of the company and inspire employees to join them in their pursuit of success. They hire employees whose values are aligned with company values and equip those employees to reach higher goals than previously believed.

Do you believe in this company? Do you find value in the products or services they offer? Will the results generated by this company make all the extra effort worth it? If yes, then dig in your heels and commit to the cause. 

When leaders go through conflict, it's easy to get frustrated or burnt out when all your efforts are seemingly ignored or unappreciated. It’s in these intense times that leaders can waver in their commitment. Everyone seems to be demanding an answer to questions you have never asked. However, do not give up! You can’t please every employee on every topic that TikTok conjures. Trying to keep up with all the demands and trending topics is overwhelming and sometimes the best thing to do is delegate as much as possible to your leadership team. 

Second, Washington and Lincoln teach leaders to connect and build relationships well. 

The relationship with your employees should be professional but encouraging. All employees should know that their employer cares about their professional development. Direct supervisors should be aware of each employee’s career goals and ultimately work to help the employee succeed. That’s easier said than done, however. Leaders have their own workload to manage as many of them are taking over multiple roles themselves and compensating for the workload of an understaffed team.

Sometimes leaders don’t know how to balance developing relationships and maintaining professional distance. This is especially true for leaders who have recently been promoted to their position and do not want to pull the authority card with their team. As a leader, the position requires maintaining boundaries with the team.

Familiarity can boost morale and allows employees to trust leadership. However, too much familiarity can put a leader in a compromising position. Washington was well-known for maintaining his authority by distancing himself from his soldiers, but he never gave them the impression that he did not care about their wellbeing. When he addressed his soldiers, he spoke with sincerity. Even when a leader is distant from the day-to-day job, sincerity is the key to connecting with your team and encouraging them toward the next quarter’s goals. 

Even when his army threatened to disband, Washington inspired and equipped them to the best of his ability to remain committed to their cause. Leaders don’t necessarily have to be great speakers. If you need to inspire your team, rely on your common goals and values. If you need to equip your team, listen to their feedback and bring about a few improvements that show them you care.

Third, Washington and Lincoln teach leaders to uphold integrity throughout conflict. 

Both presidents had their share of discouraging voices, telling them that their causes were hopeless and their efforts wasted. The voices didn’t solely come from enemies and strangers, either. Through it all, Washington and Lincoln carried themselves with grace and integrity. Because they were already committed to their causes and connected through well-developed relationships, they were equipped with everything they needed to resist discouraging voices throughout their individual conflicts. 

When you read first-hand accounts from soldiers who served under these men, the narrative is roughly the same. No one could believe the ethereal patience and fortitude Washington and Lincoln presented throughout the most stressful conflicts. Both presidents preserved diaries, journals, and letters that are open to public viewing today. Throughout their time in leadership, they struggled with depression, anxiety, and nearly all-consuming stress. It would’ve been easy to act without accountability. I mean, it wasn’t the modern age; there was so much opportunity to do the wrong thing. Yet, they chose to act with integrity. 

When leaders struggle under the pressure, it may seem easy to act without accountability or slide the ugly parts under the rug. Leaders with integrity, however, are few and far between, and yet they are the best leaders in the workforce today. It’s not convenient to have integrity, but the employees that are dependent on you will respect you for your openness and honesty. 

George Washington and Abraham Lincoln will forever be revered as two of the best presidents in United History. They teach modern leaders to commit to their cause, develop genuine relationships, and uphold integrity throughout a conflict. As a leader in your company, you have the responsibility to handle conflict in the best way possible. Whether you need to educate your team with conflict resolution sessions or if you need a professional mediator, ONE EIGHTY has services available. We enjoy partnering with leadership and making it easier for companies to pursue success together.