In Part 2 of “Where are the Founding Fathers When You Need Them?” we considered Alexander Hamilton’s impact as a leader.  In this, Part 3, we will consider the leadership of the most famous of the Founding Fathers, George Washington.

During the American Revolutionary War, Congress gave George Washington the most difficult task of all the Founding Fathers when they commissioned him as Army Commander-in-Chief on June 19, 1775.  His task was to lead the fight against the occupying armies of Great Britain—the most powerful military force on earth—and somehow win victory in the face of nearly impossible odds.

The British had large, well-disciplined armies of professional, battle-hardened soldiers stationed in key cities of the American colonies.  Washington had to challenge the Redcoats with his smaller, loosely-organized forces that consisted of poorly trained militia and unreliable volunteers.  The British Army had a well-organized system of logistics that could deliver ample supplies of weapons and food, backed by a strong navy that could provide rapid transport.  Washington had to count on whatever supplies that could be conjured up by an inept Congress, small businessmen, and local farmers.  Whereas the British were well-fed and well-supplied, Washington’s army was in short supply of uniforms, warm clothing, food, and shoes.  The British officer corps was well-trained, highly disciplined, and proficient in the art of war.  Most of Washington’s officers had no formal training, little regard for discipline, and had never led men in battle.

Why was George Washington chosen to be the leader of the American Continental forces?

There were several obvious reasons, such as the combat experience he had gained during the French and Indian War from 1754 to 1763.  Fighting on the side of the British in that conflict, he became a capable officer that demonstrated admirable leadership skills in battle.  In addition to this military experience, Washington was also a well-known civic leader, an influential resident from the important state of Virginia, and the wealthy owner of a large tobacco plantation.

Even though combat and civic experience were important reasons, Congress needed more than these to put the nation’s fate in Washington’s hands.

The “clincher” for the choice of Washington was this: More than any other leader of his time, George Washington was recognized as a man of unquestioned moral integrity.  He was universally acknowledged to be honest, patient, trustworthy, and of sound judgement.  Taken together, these qualities and character traits made Washington “the unanimous choice” of Congress for the critical role of Commander-in-Chief.

Although political leaders such as Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin would later give the new nation the inspiring vision defined in the Declaration of Independence, Congress discerned that in 1775, at the beginning of the war, it was the army that would decide America’s future.  Knowing that they could provide the army little in the way of supplies or wages, Congress recognized it was of ultimate importance that the soldiers have a respected commander to follow.

According to modern leadership theory, moral integrity is an essential quality for a leader.  As explained in Part 1 of this blog series, Historians and leadership theorists today recognize the Founders as “transformational” leaders.  Transformational leaders are the best kind to have around when you happen to have a war that needs winning or a new nation that needs establishing.  They display the unique ability to inspire followers to make personal sacrifices and go beyond their own self-interests for the good of the larger group (the “group,” in Washington’s case, was the entire American people).  Transformational leaders are inspirational because they recognize and communicate “the right thing to do.” With their moral integrity and inspirational leadership, they earn the trust, loyalty, and respect of their followers.

Ultimately, transformational leaders inspire their followers to “go above and beyond” in their cause, and they in turn become inspired by the dedication and leadership their followers develop.  Both leaders and followers—according to leadership theorist James MacGregor Burns—raise one another to “higher levels of morality and motivation” in pursuit of their righteous cause.

My book The Leadership Secrets of Hamilton: 7 Steps to Revolutionary Leadership from Alexander Hamilton and the Founding Fathers illustrates several additional transformational leadership skills that the Founders employed to motivate the American people to persevere in the Revolutionary War and establish the world’s first successful democratic nation.  In addition to “exemplify moral integrity,” the book discusses the transformational leadership skills of “go beyond self-interest,” “establish clear goals,” “respect your people,” and “convey an inspiring vision.”  The Founders’ techniques in using these skills are brought out with historical anecdotes, biographical sketches, and inspirational quotes.