Feb 16, 2019 3 min read

What makes a great leader? I believe it is a combination of courage, character, temperament and judgment, which all can be found in the man born this week (February 22) in 1732. George Washington, because of those qualities, successfully mastered two very different and challenging leadership positions: commander of the Continental Army fighting the American Revolution and president of the United States.

General Washington lost more battles against the British than he won, but most defeats came early, and he had the good judgment to learn from them, switching from an offensive war in which he attacked a far superior army to a defensive war in which he let the enemy come to him.

Used to giving orders as commander-in-chief that were unquestionably obeyed, President Washington was initially flummoxed in the art of politics, which necessitated compromising with two other entirely different and often antagonistic governmental branches. But he quickly adapted, deferring to these other branches when good judgment called for it while asserting executive authority when he judged it necessary, and within a year the new national government was functioning nicely.

As for character and temperament, in victory or defeat General and President Washington remained composed, instilling in his followers a sense of confidence but never overconfidence. And both General and President Washington had the good sense to know when to ask for advice, and which of his advisers was most likely to advise him well. Washington’s meetings with his officers during the war, and with Cabinet members during his presidency, were freewheeling affairs in which all were encouraged to speak their mind, and Washington listened closely.

As for courage, Washington displayed both physical and political courage on many occasions. During the Battle of Princeton in 1777, his army panicked and was beginning to flee when Washington rode into withering British fire and turned to rally his men, who were inspired by his bravery. At the Battle of Trenton on Christmas Eve of 1776, in which his army had to cross the treacherous Delaware River in the middle of the night, in the dead of winter, during a fierce storm, it was Washington who commanded the lead boat.

As president, Washington courageously defied the entire country in getting the Jay Treaty ratified, which his countrymen loathed because it gave their recent enemy, Great Britain, the power to dictate Anglo-American trade, but it also meant avoiding a war with Great Britain Washington knew his young country was not prepared to fight.

Washington wasn’t jocular or “fun” to work with. But leadership isn’t about getting people to like you. It’s about getting people to respect, admire, and – most of all – follow you, and Washington was brilliant at that.

Bruce G. Kauffmann’s email address is bruce@historylessons.net.