Leadership Expert Describes How One Leadership Talk By George Washington Saved The Revolution (And Our Fledgling Nation) From Catastrophe
President's Day Tie-in: The most important victory of the Revolutionary War did not occur at the battles of Saratoga or Yorktown but with a quiet Leadership Talk given by George Washington in the spring of 1783.
(PRWEB) February 9, 2005 -- As our nation celebrates Presidents' Day, we should recognize George Washington's contribution to the most important victory of the Revolutionary War, observes world-recognized leadership expert, Brent Filson.
"That victory occurred neither at Saratoga or Yorktown but in a log hut in 1783 with a few heartfelt words that literally changed the world. And it's not just a history lesson, it's a leadership lesson", says Filson, founder and president of The Filson Leadership Group, Inc..
Filson, who has consulted with thousands of leaders in top companies worldwide during the past 20 years, asserts, "To realize what took place in that hut and how important it is to history, we must understand two things: the first is what a Leadership Talk is, and the second is what was at stake at that moment in 1783 for America?"
For 750 word article on Washington's Talk: http://www.actionleadership.com/articles/0019.html
As to the Leadership Talk, Filson observes: "There's a big difference between speeches/presentations on one hand and Leadership Talks on the other. Whereas a speech or a presentation communicates information, Leadership Talks do something more: It establishes a deep, human, emotional connection with the audience. The Leadership Talk is a much more effective means of leadership communication. If Washington hadn't given a Leadership Talk in the log hut with this assembled officers, who were on the verge of revolt, the Revolution might have ended right then and there. The history of America would have been far different."
For 600 word article on The Leadership Talk: http://www.actionleadership.com/articles/0017.html
As to what was at stake at that moment in history, Filson says, "This occurred a year and a half after the battle of Yorktown. A popular misconception is that the Revolutionary War ended at that battle. Though active hostilities had ended, The War continued to drag on. The Continental Army was becoming increasingly rebellious. Many of the troops hadn't been paid in two years. Their promised pensions were not forthcoming. The troops and its officer corps contemplated overthrowing the Continental Congress and installing a military government. On the Ides of March in 1783, dozens of officers, representing every company in the army, met in a log hut to vote on taking this action when George Washington suddenly and unexpectedly walked in. He gave a speech denouncing the rebellious course they were on. But it wasn't the speech that carried the day, it was the Leadership Talk at the end of the speech. Witnesses report that Washington's speech left many officers unconvinced, and when he was finished, there was angry muttering among them. To bolster his case, the general pulled out a letter he recently received from a member of the Continental Congress. As he began reading, his usual confident air gave way to hesitancy. Then, unexpectedly, he drew out a spectacle case from his pocket. Few officers had ever seen him put on spectacles. Usually a severely formal man, he said, in a voice softened with apology: "Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the service of my country.
"The deep, human, emotional power of that moment electrified the officers. Here was their commander who had never taken a furlough during his eight years of command, who had faced storms of musketry fire, who through his daring and intelligence had kept the Army in tact in what most of the world thought was a lost cause, here was George Washington modestly asking his officers to bear with him in an all-too-human failing. It was an astonishing turning point.
As Maj. Samuel Shaw, who was present, put it in his journal, "There was something so natural, so unaffected in this appeal as rendered it superior to the most studied oratory. It forced its way to the heart, and you might see sensibility moisten every eye."
After Washington left the hut, the officers unanimously voted to "continue to have unshaken confidence in the justice of the Congress and their country ...." The result was that the Continental Army disbanded without incident and thereby set in motion the relatively peaceful events that led to the creation of the Constitution.
"Without Washington's intervention, America may very well have become a kind of banana republic, at the mercy of thousands of armed and angry soldiers and their officers. And it wasn't his speech that did it, it was a Leadership Talk."
The author of 23 books, Brent Filson's latest books are "The Leadership Talk: The Greatest Leadership Tool" and "101 Ways to Give Great Leadership Talks."
To obtain downloadable review copies of Brent Filson's latest books, click on these links and enter the code 394064.
The Leadership Talk (http://www.theleadershiptalk.com/downloads/LeadershipTalk.pdf)
101 Ways To Give Great Leadership Talks (http://www.theleadershiptalk.com/downloads/101Ways.pdf)
Order hard cover review copies at brent@actionleadership.com
Filson first learned about leadership as a Marine Corps rifle platoon commander. For the past 20 years, as a civilian, he has helped thousands of leaders in major companies worldwide achieve sizable and continual increases in results. He has published many books and hundreds of articles on leadership, developed motivational leadership strategies and created and instituted leadership educational and training programs. He has lectured at Columbia University, M.I.T., Wake Forest, Villanova and many other universities. Recently, he has conducted more than 125 radio interviews dealing with the Leadership Talk.
"Brent Filson is one of the most talented communicators in the world. If you want to learn to motivate two, two hundred, or two thousand people, his lectures and seminars are a must!"- Joseph Mancuso, CEO, Center for Entrepreneurial Management.
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