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Leadership

What is a leader? A leader is a person who influences others to do things that they may not have otherwise done. Leaders usually improve the lives of affiliated individuals and organizations. Leaders also guide, are in command or in a position of influence or importance. A great U.S. historical example is George Washington. Here are just a few characteristics he showed of being a leader, setting an example for others, becoming a great communicator, learning from his failures and mistakes and knowing to make a decision.
Being able to set an example and become a role model is crucial in becoming a successful leader. He displayed this characteristic during countless battles where he led his troops instead of issuing orders from the back lines where its safe. His first job for the thirteen colonies, he was in charge with training the militia, in which he influenced others to be courageous and brave in something they wouldn’t otherwise do. He was appointed to higher ranks partly due to this characteristic as a leader and the way he trained his men. He kept moving up in the ranks until at last he became General Washington, Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. army.
Learning from your failures and mistakes and knowing when to make decisions also contribute in becoming a great leader. Washington became the leader of the thirteen colonies army at age 32, a huge job for such a young man. Learning from your failures and mistakes aren’t just necessary for military work, this is essential in life in order to be successful. George Washington was forced to surrender to the French because he chose a poor location for a fort. After that, he always had a plan to retreat and to fight another day.
Washington was a flexible decision maker as an officer and President. As a general, he could make life and death decisions quickly in the heat of battle such as his decision to attack the Hessians on Christmas. As a President, he had the...