George Washington's Leadership During The Revolutionary War

Introduction George Washington is considered a primary example of a leader because he demonstrated the core leadership attributes and competencies. The Army defines leadership as “the process of influencing others to provide purpose, direction, and motivation to accomplish the mission and improve the organization.” (ADP 6-22, 2012, pg. iii) The purpose of this paper is to describe how George Washington modeled leadership during the Revolutionary War, as well as during his presidency. In addition, this paper will focus on how his leadership style made a lasting impact on me. He was a prime example of what a leader should do; lead, develop, and achieve. He also possessed the attributes of what a leader should have; character, presence, and intellect.

This perception was due, in large part, to his character, his presence, and his unwavering perseverance despite the many hardships he faced. He continuously led from the front, always charging into battle with his men, determined to lead and motivate them to victory over the British forces. He showed his commitment to his men and the cause, as he remained with his troops during the Revolutionary War in difficult environments and suffered alongside them when supplies were low, especially at Valley Forge. (Bernstein, 2015) Despite losing several early battles to the British at Washington Heights and Brandywine, he persevered in the face of adversity, keeping his army together and cohesive. (McCollough, 2005). He sought to develop his troops by implementing safe hygiene practices, establishing a chain of command, and by training them for combat. He demonstrated his character and personal courage by staying poised and resilient in the face of many criticisms and an attempt to remove him from his position of General. He displayed the attributes of character, intellect and presence through his patience, determination, and sense of