ADVICE FROM GEORGE WASHINGTON

George wrote the tidbits below when he was fourteen. He followed these rules, apparently, for the rest of his life. He had other qualities, of course, such as military skill and leadership ability. However, I can’t help but think that following the rules below helped get George to the top. He had to be doing something right. George had the utmost respect of the country’s most powerful men who were used to getting their own way and measured others with an exacting standard. Following the rules below most certainly established a foundation for the respect Washington enjoyed. The rules below, some of which you may already follow, should be as valid a path to organizational status and respect today as they were in Washington’s time.

• Every action in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those that are present.
• Show yourself not glad at the misfortune of another, even if he was your enemy.
• Let your discourse with men of business be short and comprehensive.
• When a man does all he can, though it succeeds not well, blame him not.
• When you reprove another be unblameable yourself, for example is more powerful than precepts. "Actions speak louder than words."
• Use no reproachful language against anyone, neither curse nor revile.
• Be not hasty to believe flying reports (gossip) to the disparagement of any.
• Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.
• Speak not injurious words, neither in jest nor earnest; scoff at none though they give occasion.
• Think before you speak.
• Undertake not what you cannot perform, but be careful to keep your promise.
• Speak not evil of the absent, for it is unjust.
• Labour to keep alive in your breast that little celestial fire called conscience.

Now these rules worked for George. He was the military leader of the American Revolution, presided over the convention that wrote the constitution and was all but crowned first President of the United States. Of course, not all men of power follow these precepts. The framers of the U.S. constitution understood this in creating a weaker presidency designed for office holders with less integrity than Washington. (Strong presidency proponents at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 had put forth Washington as the example of how wise, benevolent and powerful chief executives would lead in the interests of the country.) Anyway, the question is whether you want to become the kind of leader that constitution’s guard against, or whether, like Washington, you want to conduct yourself in such a way that those who work for you willingly put their faith in you. You decide. Professor O’Hara