Ever wonder how Abraham Lincoln managed to lead during America’s darkest hour? I’ve been reading Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals,” and let me tell you, this book is packed with leadership gold.

What struck me most about Lincoln wasn’t just his famous speeches or wisdom. It was something much more practical: the way he built his team. And trust me, it wasn’t what you’d expect.

Build a Cabinet (or Team) of the Best—Even if They Disagree with You

Here’s the thing: Lincoln did something that would make most of us uncomfortable. He deliberately surrounded himself with people who had been his opponents; folks who had competed against him and, frankly, people who thought they deserved his job more than he did.

Why? Because he believed the country needed the best minds, not just the most loyal ones. Pretty bold move during a civil war, right?

Look at who he picked:

• William Seward as Secretary of State (the guy who expected to win the presidency instead of Lincoln)
• Salmon Chase as Treasury Secretary (who barely hid his ambition to replace Lincoln)
• Edwin Stanton as Secretary of War (who once called Lincoln a “gorilla”!)

Can you imagine walking into work every day facing a room of people who think they’re smarter than you? Yet Lincoln did exactly that, and it worked beautifully.

Why Would Anyone Do This?

Honestly, it seems counterintuitive. Most of us try to build teams of people we get along with. But Lincoln’s approach had some serious advantages:

1. You get the best talent, period. Lincoln wasn’t hiring friends; he was hiring the most capable people, even if they made him uncomfortable.
2. You hear what you need to hear, not what you want. When everyone in the room thinks differently, you’re less likely to miss important perspectives.
3. Your ideas get challenged before they go public. Think about how valuable that is! Lincoln’s cabinet debates meant ideas were battle-tested before implementation.
4. It shows you’re confident enough to handle disagreement. Nothing says “secure leader” like bringing in people who challenge you daily.

How Can We Apply This Today?

So what does this mean for you and me? Here’s how we can channel our inner Lincoln:

• Hire people who are better than you at certain things. Don’t let ego get in the way of bringing in top talent. If someone’s skills intimidate you, that might be exactly who you need.
• Ask for those different opinions. It’s not enough to hire diverse thinkers; you have to create space for them to speak up. Try asking, “Who sees this differently?” in your next meeting.
• Make it safe to disagree. Your team needs to know that challenging ideas won’t hurt their career. I’ve found phrases like “I need your honest take here” can work wonders.
• Look beyond your usual suspects. Who’s not in your inner circle that should be? Sometimes the best insights come from people with completely different backgrounds.
• Be the referee when needed. Strong personalities clash; that’s just reality. Lincoln spent considerable energy managing relationships so work could get done.
• Take the best from competing ideas. Your job isn’t to pick a winner in every debate, but to synthesize the best thinking into something better than any single perspective.

The Payoff Is Worth It

What’s amazing is Lincoln’s rivals eventually became his biggest fans. Seward, who initially thought Lincoln was a country bumpkin, later called him “the best of us all.” When Lincoln died, Stanton (remember, the “gorilla” guy) stood by his deathbed and said, “Now he belongs to the ages.” That’s quite the transformation!

Most importantly, this approach helped save the country. By bringing together the brightest minds regardless of personal feelings or past conflicts, Lincoln built a team that could navigate the impossible challenges of the Civil War.

In our divided world today, I find Lincoln’s example refreshing. True leadership isn’t about surrounding yourself with yes-people. It’s about having the confidence to bring in the best talent, even when they challenge you, disagree with you, or occasionally make you squirm in your seat.

What do you think? Have you ever tried building your own “team of rivals”? I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments!

Bottom line: The most underrated collaboration and team-building tactic is to surround yourself with people who are smarter than you. Remember, where all think alike, nobody thinks very much. Diversity of thinking expands a team and an organization’s perspective, and breaks through status quo bias.