Explanation:
Seven Lessons in Leadership From Alexander Hamilton
September 25, 2016, Joy Moxon in Uncategorized Leave a comment
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Contrary to the belief of 71% of Americans according to one Washington University poll, Alexander Hamilton was never a U.S. president; however, he was one of the most influential of the founding fathers of the United States. Outside of American history classrooms, Hamilton has been one of the lesser known heroes of American history — that is, until Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony-sweeping musical, Hamilton, made him the historical man of the hour.
Hamilton’s rich life provides ample material from which to glean both advice and cautionary tales for leaders. Miranda’s story of Hamilton focuses on the hard-working, self-made man rather than the often elitist, politically conservative views that Hamilton held. We can only imagine what Hamilton, who warned with great passion of the dangers of populism, would have thought of the current presidential election. But regardless of one’s opinion of Hamilton’s political views, it’s difficult not to admire the man for his impressive list of accomplishments in his short life of 49 years.
Born to unmarried parents on a small island in the West Indies, Hamilton grew up without the requisite wealth, status or formal education for a man of his time to become a leader. Abandoned by his father, orphaned at thirteen after the death of his mother, disinherited by his older half-brother, and afflicted by frequent illness, Hamilton arrived in America as a teenager with little more than his keen intellect and the support of hometown sponsors who were impressed by his skills. This backdrop makes Hamilton’s lifetime achievements all the more extraordinary: trusted aide-de-camp to George Washington, infantry commander at the Battle of Yorktown, lawyer, congressional representative for New York, delegate to the Constitutional Convention, author of most of The Federalist Papers, first Secretary of the Treasury, mastermind of the national banking system, and founder of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Many of the aspects of Hamilton’s traits, skills, and use of power, mirror the attributes of successful leaders identified by modern leadership research. Consider these seven lessons in leadership from the life of Alexander Hamilton:
1. Lie about your age.
2. Make friends with powerful people.
4. Be ambitious, but not too ambitious.
5. Tell the truth.
6. Stick to your principles, but be willing to compromise for the greater good.
7. If someone challenges you to a duel, say “no.”
