The Founding Fathers on Leadership : Classic Teamwork in Changing Times

Donald T. Phillips

1 Learn How the Founding Fathers Led the Country
Phillips' book is an excellent read for understanding how the founding fathers led in our country's early history and how we can apply these concepts today.

Among the interesting points Phillips covers include:

1. Being a team leader and member.
2. Turning a positive into a negative.
3. Be a learner and refuse to lose.
4. Leaders are risk-takers and change agents.
5. Leaders must understand human nature.
6. Leaders create a favorable culture and climate.
7. Excellent leaders are persistent and follow through.
8. Spend time in the field with the troops.

Read and understand that leadership principles that worked in the early history of the U.S. still work today!

2 You will be inspired after this book
CASE FOR:
The best part about this book is not some ground-breaking secrets of the founding fathers, but their history that illustrate some important principals of leadership. I was inspired after listening to the book on CD.

He author takes you through their life, battling England, taking you through their successes and failures. After you listen, you understand what really works, and why it is so important to do what is required of the leader. And of course he tells you what it is, he nicely sums it up at the end of each chapter.

He says, "changing times needs new approaches", "The greater the risk, the greater the glory" you will truly understand the meaning of such phrases from that book. I love this quotes, "We must make the best of the men as they are, since we cannot have them as we wish" I believe that was by George Washington.

I got this book on CD already thinking what they can offer me what I haven't already heard, after I was done with it, I was informed and inspired.

CASE AGAINST:
Donald's book finished little low, but in general I enjoyed his book.

3 Not Good
I did not find ANYTHING new or interesting about leadership in Mr. Phillip's book. More or less a bunch of tired old cliche's in hardcover or softcover - your choice. Save your money, I wish I had.

4 A Legacy of "Unselfish, Genuine Leadership"
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book while learning a great deal from it as Phillips examines the lives and recorded thoughts of those who, "individually and collectively, stepped forward to lead the way" to creating an entirely new nation. "They did so, in part, because they realized from profound change spring new opportunities -- and this was a time when there would be a chance for them to make something happen." Why did their leadership prevail? "Because they understood human nature, they knew that major change is more evolution than revolution; that tyranny and dictatorship are contradictory to the rights of the individual; and that leadership, in and of itself, is actually in harmony with human nature."

After an especially well-written Introduction, Phillips organizes his material within four Parts: Preparing for the Revolution, Mobilizing and Motivating, Winning the War, and finally, After the Revolution. At the beginning of each of the book's 15 chapters, he identifies "team leaders" who personify the qualities of leadership examined in that chapter; then at the end of each chapter, he provides a summary of key points, "The Founding Fathers on Leadership." Phillips is perhaps most eloquent when, in the Epilogue, he observes: "Clearly the founding fathers cleverly and shrewdly designed democracy to foster the art and process of leadership. And in the final analysis, the principles of leadership are nothing less than the principles of humanity: treating people with respect and dignity; raising awareness; creating a vision and involving others; bonding together through alliances and teamwork; risking all; learning from mistakes; refusing to lose; inspiring rather than coercing; listening; compromising; caring; ever changing and ever achieving."

Throughout his book, Phillips includes hundreds of specific examples of these qualities of leadership as they are revealed in the recorded thoughts, feelings, and (especially) the actions of the various founding fathers. He recalls many memorable moments such as when (in 1796) Washington stopped at Valley Forge one last time en route to Mount Vernon and encountered a farmer named Woodman, a veteran of the Continental Army who had also endured the harsh winter at Valley Forge. According to Phillips' account, the farmer greeted his former commander. Of course, no one knows what was said but it can be assumed that each had special significance for the other when meeting at what has since become a national shrine.

There are hundreds (thousands?) of books about "leadership" now available and countless more yet to be written. The best of them, by assertion of implication, focus on many of the same values which Phillips reveals in such abundance among the founding fathers. To his credit, Phillips suggests rather than imposes the correlations he sees between leaders of the American Revolution and those who most effectively lead organizations in the 21st century. Obviously, their respective circumstances are substantially different in many respects but all of them share certain basic values previously indicated. Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to consult the remarkably eclectic "Bibliography" which Phillips provides. To those works I presume add the separate biographies of John Adams by Ellis and McCullough as well as Ferling's Setting the World Ablaze and O'Toole's The Executive Compass.

5 Well worth the time - a great read
A mentor recommended this book so I picked it up primarily to please him and maybe pick up a few pointers along the way. WOW! Donald T. Phillips has told the story of the American Revolution from a fresh and exciting perspective. I could hardly put the book down. He made it come alive to me as never before. Although I enjoy politics, I had not viewed the events of our history from any point of view other than "What do I need to know about this to PASS THE TEST?!"

You will find this book an INSPIRING GUIDEBOOK if you enjoy history and are an aspiring leader.

I gained an appreciation for the all of our country's founding fathers as it relates to leadership traits that the history textbooks seem to overlook. And prior to reading this book, if asked about George Washington, I would have simply said he was the first president or a founding father of our country. But now, I would talk about this amazing man and how he led a relatively small band of rebels, against nearly insurmountable odds, to win independence from Great Britian, the world's strongest economic and mightiest military force in their day. I would be able to recite what specific leadership traits he possessed that won what may be the greatest achievement of all time.

6 Good Book
Probably the best part of this book is Phillips reenactment of the revolutionary war. I really feel I learned something about the war and its leaders (particularly Washington). All in all this book is put together just as well as Lincoln On Leadership though I didn't find myself completely glued to this one like I was to Lincoln on Leadership. I found the stories (and the subject) more interesting in his Lincoln book. Phillips also seemed more able to nail down his lessons on leadership in his Lincoln book. I recommend this one, but if you have to choose, buy Lincoln On Leadership. It's one of the best books ever written on leadership.

7 Important & timely work.
Phillips captures the vision and courage of our nation's first leaders. Successful leadership is deliberate and purposeful - do not take what Washington and others did for granted.

8 Superb combination of American History & leadership insight.
Donald Phillips has produced an outstanding work which clearly shows the integrity of the Founding Fathers -- integrity critical to any leaderhsip success. The leaders depicted in this book were willing to give of themselves to insure the success of the mission. To them the mission and the integrity of the process and the product were far more important than any individual.

The leadership depictded in this work stands in sharp contrast to the leadership we see exhibited in our government today -- and beckonds us back to the principles of our Nation's birth -- to be worthy, once again, of the rich blessings endowed upon her by our Creator.

This is a must book for every person seeking the path to effective and moral leadership success.

9 The best LEADERSHIP book I've ever read!
WOW...Get this book! I bought it for the leadership principles, and got caught up in the American Revolution! Phillips shows how Washington, Paine, Franklin, Madison, and the other American heroes plotted and executed the revolution-against all odds. How they set their goals, inspired the masses, turned cowardice into courage, and forged a team of patriots that withstood British onslaughts, freezing weather, and a host of other obstacles that would have stopped normal men in their tracks. But these were not normal men! They were inspired LEADERS-dedicated to the cause of freedom. And they used every leadership principle imaginable to pull off their revolution. Find out HOW they did it! If you want to become a leader in your business, community, or church, read this book! If you want to fall in love with your country, buy a copy of The Founding Fathers On Leadership-and be prepared to order more copies for your friends!