As his confidential secretary describes him, Lien approaches his job with the thoroughness of a scholar, always absorbing as much information as he can (he typically reads seven newspapers in a day), and always thinking through decisions carefully.
一方面是因為他不大接受記者採訪，另方面則是他很少應酬。他的機要秘書蔡政順形容他，有學者風範，對什麼事都要細讀資料、研究清楚，公文才肯批；每天親自看七份報紙，連地方版也不放過。