How do you lead when people disagree?

In Part 11 of our journey through The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Franklin confronts political disagreement, public resistance, and uncertainty as he helps organize Philadelphia’s defense.

But the larger lesson isn’t about militias—it’s about leadership, persuasion, consensus, and intellectual humility.

Franklin shows us the value of building solutions instead of simply criticizing, refusing to let rumors dictate our decisions, finding language that gives people a way to say yes, and remaining humble enough to change our minds when we learn something new.

Reflection Question:
In your last disagreement, were you trying to win—or were you trying to solve the problem?

Until next time, remember: the answers are older than we are—and just as relevant today.

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