Lead Like Reagan: Strategies to Motivate, Communicate, and Inspire

2Assembling the TeamInspiring Loyalty and Commitment

America is no stronger than its people—and that means you and me. Well, I believe in you, and I believe that if we work together, then one day we will say, “We fought the good fight. We finished the race. We kept the faith.” And to our children and our children's children we can say, “We did all that could be done in the brief time that was given us here on earth.”

—Ronald Reagan¹

Ronald Reagan believed that you are only as good as the people with whom you surround yourself. He worked to find the best and brightest people for each area of his administration to create a brain trust around him that would contribute to his ability to make informed, intelligent decisions. He wasn't afraid that he might be outshined, but rather he knew that the key to his effectiveness and success would be having top leaders in their respective fields join him and support him in his vision for America. Rather than being intimidated by those with expertise and experience, he was motivated by it, inspired by them, and thrived on their energy and wisdom.

When Ronald Reagan was elected president of the United States in 1980, rather than limiting himself to people who were already in Washington, D.C., or even automatically rewarding those who had served on his campaign staff or transition team, he committed himself to expanding the reach of his recruitment for his initial cabinet and White House senior staff. He looked for experts across the nation ...