Databus Issue: 2007 2 05/29/2007
Best Practices: Lincoln on Leadership
Philip Scrivano Vice President of Customer Services
PDF
Once a year, I read or listen to Donald
T. Phillips’ Lincoln on Leadership.
This year, this book has special meaning
as the CETPA sponsored
Chief Technology Officer
training program begins
for 20 individuals in our
profession. The Lincoln
principals discussed in this
readily apply to all of us.
Lincoln’s challenges in
leadership are the similar
to the challenges technology
leaders face today. We
are often charged with implementing large
projects with uncertain objectives with little
funding and few men. One of Lincoln’s
greatest challenges was getting his generals
to carry through with his direction.
With every challenge and frustration
Lincoln faced, he realized that people were
the most important part of the equation. If
he was upset at one of his men, he would
write in a letter a blistering rebuke of the
person, but never send the letter. He also
made sure he always maintained an opendoor
policy to everyone and saw enemies as
people he needed to learn from.
CETPA, as an organization, has the
vision to raise the professionalism, and pay,
for technology leaders in our state. The
CTO project is a great example. I encourage
every leader to assist the CETPA board
in attaining this goal. Reading this book
and applying the Lincoln principals will
help us enhance the status and delivery of
technology in education.
