Page 8 of 9
Perseverance
In true Lincoln style, perseverance ultimately won, preserving the Union and putting the country on a track toward ensuring the "freedom and humanity" for which Owen and his companions had volunteered to fight. Although a simplification, it can be argued that the Union won through attrition, outlasting an enemy whose inferior resources further dwindled as the war dragged on, accelerated by more capable and relentless military leadership Lincoln selected later in the war.
Important contemporary questions that emerge today are:
- What role can humility and perseverance play in improving or impeding leadership effectiveness?
- How can hiring choices threaten to undermine the mission of our organizations?
- At what point can perseverance become an escalation of commitment to a failed course of action?
