What can we learn from their leadership examples?
How do we apply them to the Financial Aid profession?
What U.S. Presidents come to mind when you think of:
Effective Leadership?
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George Washington
Abraham Lincoln
Franklin Roosevelt
Thomas Jefferson
Theodore Roosevelt
James K. Polk
Lyndon Johnson (?)
Ineffective Leadership?
 Andrew Johnson
 James Buchanan
 Ulysses Grant
 Warren Harding
 Herbert Hoover
 John Tyler
What traits do YOU feel make a “great” leader?
(What qualities do you want in your supervisor?)
Qualifications
Character/Work Ethic
Vision
Team Building &
Communication
5. Results
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2.
3.
4.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Charisma
Innovation
Fairness
Intelligence
Crisis Management
As we discuss these traits, think of how they
might apply in Financial Aid, or other
leadership role in our industry…
1. Qualifications
“THE IMPORTANCE OF
QUALIFICATIONS”
QUIZ!!!
2. Character/Work Ethic
Washington-Placed the needs of the public ahead of his
own
 Lincoln-”the little engine that knew no rest”
 T. Roosevelt-The Tireless Umpire
Those who needed a little work in this area:
 Jefferson-A “quiet” idealist who did not play well with
others.
 Buchanan-the “inept busybody”
 Coolidge-LOVED his naps!
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3. Vision
Washington-Concerned about setting bad precedents
Lincoln-Kept nation together in its darkest hour
F. Roosevelt-Gave a nation hope through the Great
Depression, then World War Two
 Jefferson-Made a purchase against his own principles
and altered the history of a nation
 Wilson-Idealist with a modern world view
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4. Team Building/Communication
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Washington-Formed finest cabinet in U.S. History
F. Roosevelt-good (and bad) leader of his team.
Bad Examples of Team Leaders:
 Grant-Placed too much trust in his friends
 Harding-Placed too much trust in his friends
5. Results
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F. Roosevelt-Acted immediately to show he was tackling the
Depression.
Polk-Set out an aggressive agenda and achieved it-in one
term, as promised!
Bad Examples of not producing Results:
 Lyndon Johnson-Lost focus on his Great Society by waging a
war in Vietnam
 Andrew Johnson-Followed his own agenda leading to
disastrous results
6. Charisma
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Kennedy-Good looks and charm along with a popular First
Lady (which didn’t hurt!)
Ronald Reagan-”The Teflon President”
T. Roosevelt- Oozed charisma
Presidents who needed help in the area of Charisma:
 Wilson-The stuffy University President
 Van Buren-”The Politician’s Politician”
 Too wrapped up in their profession to be an effective leader.
7. Innovation
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Washington-The First…and had to build the Executive
F. Roosevelt-Tried EVERYTHING to defeat the
Depression
Kennedy-Changed America’s Cold War strategy
Bad Examples of Innovators:
 Pretty much any President from 1850-1861 (Fillmore,
Pierce, Buchanan);
 and from 1865-1897 (A. Johnson, Grant, Hayes, Arthur,
B. Harrison)
8. Fairness
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Lincoln-”With Malice towards None and Charity for All”
Truman-Gave us the Fair Deal
L. Johnson- Civil Rights & Education Legislation
T. Roosevelt-Gave us the Square Deal
Leaders who were not fair to others:
 A. Johnson-Worked to deny Freedmen of their rights
 R. Nixon-Paranoia at the End
9. Intelligence
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Jefferson-Most Brilliant President
Madison-Father of the U.S. Constitution
Wilson-Only President to hold a PhD
The “Don’t Go Applying for MENSA just yet” group:
 Harding-”There must be a book on it”
 George W. Bush-”Fool Me Once…”
10. Crisis Management
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Lincoln-Civil War (my God, you have to ask?)
F. Roosevelt-Great Depression & World War 2.
Kennedy-Cuban Missile Crisis
Bad Examples of Crisis Management:
 Hoover-”Prosperity is just around the Corner”
 Pierce/Buchanan-It’ll work itself out…
Presidential Leadership Lessons
Conclusions
Questions
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What qualities have NOT been
mentioned today that an effective
leader should have?
What can you take away from this
session that you can utilize in your
professional or personal lives?