Description

Leadership has never been easy, but leaders of virtually any type of organization today are faced with intense scrutiny and criticism as never before. Instead of seeking to understand the decisions by those that seek solutions to an organization's problems, many stakeholders have become more accustomed to finding fault no matter what the topic. The COVID-19 pandemic has exasperated the tensions for those who lead organizations, often with about half of the stakeholders in favor and the other half opposed to any major decision made.

It's 2 AM at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is a series of actual leadership challenges faced by American presidents. When wrestling with life's most vexing problems, it is human nature to lie awake in the middle of the night contemplating ways to bring resolution to those issues. The cases illustrated in this book and their accompanying reflective activities involving the decisions made by the nation's chief executives are not intended to provide answers for those who seek them, but rather a reminder that leaders at all levels are faced with intensive decision-making with common patterns and themes. Continuous reflective practice using actual case examples can help build strong skills to meet the challenges of leadership. This book blends historical cases faced by various US presidents with general applicability that can serve as a guide to anyone who wishes to study leadership and its lasting impact on people and their organizations.

Many of the noble characteristics that we associate with leadership are illustrated in this book. Abraham Lincoln practiced humility when comforting both a dying soldier and a grieving mother who had lost several children to the Civil War. Harry Truman had every reason to throw the towel in when running for reelection in 1948, but was unwavering in his belief that he could overcome the obstacles. Woodrow Wilson stuck to his ideals at great personal cost. Franklin Roosevelt provided a sense of stability and optimism in the face of two of the greatest crises in American history. And Chester Arthur shed his corrupt past and conducted the presidency with dignity and grace.

These same characteristics, and many more, can also define the leadership styles of leaders of any organization today. Instead of lying awake at 2 AM reinventing the wheel, try learning from some of American history's most notable actors as they tackled their own leadership dilemmas. You'll be surprised how many parallels your current crisis has to a once-occupant of the big home on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC. By examining the trials and perseverance of those who have occupied the White House over the last 230 years, we can harness the lessons of our nation's instructive and illustrative history to lead us forward with confidence and reassurance.