If Lincoln ran the incapable USTA……….. By Javier Palenque

A few nights ago I was helping my son with a reading passage for the SAT, in it, some of the main leadership characteristics of the former president were highlighted vs. his opponents primarily Stephen Douglas. As soon as I finished reading the passage it was so obvious that one was a statesman and the others nothing more than status-quo caretakers. Of course in my desire to fulfill my duties as a new American (this means leave the country better than when you found it), I could not help but compare Lincoln to the incapable leadership of the USTA. So I did a little research, found some executive character and leadership traits that Lincoln had that the USTA’s leadership could use just about now. I hope you see how important it is to think big, think wise, and think loftier goals above all. (the text below is an adaptation of Mark Crawley’s article “The leadership Genius of Abraham Lincoln” Fast Company 2012)

According to Doris Kearns’ Pulitzer Prize-winning Lincoln biography, Team Of Rivals, The main trait that made president Lincoln brilliant was that he led not just from his mind, but also from his heart. Thinking of others is the key point here. Imagine if that was a requirement to lead at the inept USTA, would we not be in a different place right now? The bold and italic text is what Lincoln would do and ask today.