Nancy Koehn, a Harvard Business School professor and historian, delves into the leadership of Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. She highlights Lincoln's legendary emotional discipline, illustrated by his decision to write but never send a scathing letter to a general. Koehn discusses Lincoln’s storytelling abilities, his nuanced stance on slavery, and how personal struggles shaped his leadership. The conversation reveals vital lessons on emotional control and thoughtful decision-making during crises, emphasizing the legacy of Lincoln’s impactful leadership.

In 1878, a machinist at a Pennsylvania steelworks noticed that his crew was producing much less than he thought they could. With stopwatches and time-motion studies, Frederick Winslow Taylor ran experiments to find the optimal way to make the most steel with lower labor costs. It was the birth of a management theory, called scientific management or Taylorism. Critics said Taylor’s drive for industrial efficiency depleted workers physically and emotionally. Resentful laborers walked off the job. The U.S. Congress held hearings on it. Still, scientific management was the dominant management theory 100 years ago in October of 1922, when Harvard Business Review was founded. It spread around the world, fueled the rise of big business, and helped decide World War II. And today it is baked into workplaces, from call centers to restaurant kitchens, gig worker algorithms, and offices. Although few modern workers would recognize Taylorism, and few employers would admit to it. 4 Business Ideas That Changed the World is a special series from HBR IdeaCast. Each week, an HBR editor talks to world-class scholars and experts on the most influential ideas of HBR’s first 100 years, such as disruptive innovation, shareholder value, and emotional intelligence. Discussing scientific management with HBR senior editor Curt Nickisch are: Nancy Koehn, historian at Harvard Business School Michela Giorcelli, economic historian at UCLA Louis Hyman, work and labor historian at Cornell University Further reading: Book: The One Best Way: Frederick Winslow Taylor and the Enigma of Efficiency, by Robert Kanigel Case Study: Mass Production and the Beginnings of Scientific Management, by Thomas K. McCraw Oxford Review: The origin and development of firm management, by Michela Giorcelli Book: The Principles of Scientific Management, by Frederick Winslow Taylor

Celebrated historian Dr. Nancy Koehn did not expect to write a book about crisis leadership. But as she studied many experiences of history’s transformational leaders, she discovered that so often great leadership is developed out of one’s ability to both learn from failure and to rise to inspire others.During this discussion, Koehn shares some of the critical crisis leadership lessons from her book Forged in Crisis: The Power of Courageous Leadership in Turbulent Times with host Gary Heil. Together they examine the similarities and circumstances that shape courageous leaders and how these lessons apply to leaders facing the tumultuous business landscape and ongoing global crises of today. Key takeaways: What courageous leadership looks like in action.How the best leaders are often forged through failure.Why leadership is more than choices: it's a reflection of who you are in crisis.The power of purpose in leadership: why meaning and value are critical. Why great leaders must balance passion with emotional self-discipline to inspire hope.Learn more about our speakers:Gary Heil: https://www.wsb.com/speakers/gary-heil/Nancy Koehn: https://www.wsb.com/speakers/nancy-koehn/About the series:Presented weekly, Leadership Lessons from the Fast Lane explores some of the most pressing challenges that leaders of today face, with the world’s most respected, creative, and successful thought leaders.Visit our website: https://www.wsb.com/Contact us: https://www.wsb.com/contact/

In 1863, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln wrote a scathing letter to his top Union general, who had squandered a chance to end the Civil War. Then Lincoln folded it up and tucked it away in his desk. He never sent it. Lincoln understood that the first action that comes to mind is often counter-productive. In the third episode of a four-part special series on leadership, HBR Editor in Chief Adi Ignatius and Harvard Business School professor and historian Nancy Koehn explore Lincoln’s career both before and during America’s greatest crisis. They discover lessons on how to learn continuously, communicate values, and exercise emotional self-control.

Harvard Business School professor Nancy Koehn discusses the life and vision of Milton Hershey, the entrepreneur behind Hershey chocolate. Topics include Hershey's childhood, the building of Hershey Town, worker dissent, Hershey's philanthropy, and the possibility of replicating his success.