I recently read two different books about Abraham Lincoln. The first one was an excellent read called Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. A bit long at over a thousand pages but if you enjoy history and leadership it is a book you shouldn't miss. The other, which went to the other of the spectrum at well under two hundred pages, is Lincoln on Leadership: Executive Strategies for Tough Times by Donald T. Phillips.

The longer of the two was an in depth look at Lincoln, his cabinet, his generals, and how he led the country through the most difficult time in our nation's history. The second book focused on specific strategies and traits for executives who want to be great leaders. I mention these two books as a lead into the topic of this article, how great leaders treat their followers.

I was fortunate to represent my Wing as the proxy for our Wing Commander at the National Boards in August. As "the man" for our Wing I sat up front with the rest of the Wing Kings (and Queens) and cast my vote for various items including the election of our National Vice Commander, Brigadier General Amy Courter. I also spent four days as a stranger in a strange land, since my fellow table mates were all regular National Board members. Now I am fairly familiar with the other Wing Commanders in my region and I also know a couple other Wing and Region Commanders but eighty percent of the folks at the tables were strangers to me. For those that don't know me, I try to be open to meeting others, friendly and easy to talk to. I subscribe to the saying "be nice to the people on your way up the ladder because they will be the same ones you pass on the way back down".

As it happens, both Goodwin and Phillips mention that one of Lincoln's greatest skills was the ability to put others at ease and to listen to what they have to say. (I'm still working hard on the listening well to others concept) Lincoln found it almost impossible to say no to meeting others and regular folks as well as congressmen would line the walls of the White House to meet with the President. He was a master at story telling and could put foes off their game by spinning a yarn, often with a pointed message.

I was privileged to be able to stand in and accept the National awards for Maryland Wing in Search and Rescue and in Cadet Programs at the awards ceremony on Saturday morning, a proud and humbling experience. As I stood on the stage with the other Wing Commanders accepting their awards I took the time to congratulate the person to my left and to my right. When riding in elevators in uniform I took the time to introduce myself to other members and ask what Wing they came from. I was also able to hook up with a couple of other CadetStuffers in person, all in all a pretty cool experience.

What wasn't so cool was the air of superiority that some of the folks sitting at the tables up front seem to have about themselves. For most leaders in CAP being selected as a Wing Commander is the highlight and the twilight of their career. It is a very difficult and time consuming unpaid job and they all deserve thanks from each and every one of you. However, Lincoln's example of putting everyone at ease and making everyone feel equal to him is something that every leader should try and emulate and my recent experience found some of the folks a bit lacking in meeting the standard set by great leaders like Lincoln

None of us will ever come close to being a second Lincoln but eventually many of you will find yourselves in a senior leadership position. When you reach that mountain top you might take a page from Lincoln's game book and go out of your way to treat the little people like they mean something to you because without them you have no one to lead.