So Others Can Lead:
- Matthew
- May 29
- 2 min read
What George Washington Shows Us About Growing the Leaders Around You
At Goode Design, we believe the true test of leadership isn’t what happens while
you’re in charge – it’s what happens after you leave.
George Washington understood this better than most.
He didn’t just lead a revolution. He led a transition. A fragile, experimental democracy needed more than one hero – it needed a bench. And Washington built one.
I’ve spent 20 years in educational leadership and led teams through humanitarian crises and national security work at USAID. I've seen what leadership enables – and what it costs when no one is ready to step up:
📉 Replacing a single manager can cost 2x their salary
📉 External hires often fail to integrate
📉 Burnout and disengagement spike when leadership is unclear or inconsistent
That’s why we built the CREATE Framework—a cohort-based, research-informed system that helps organizations grow leadership from the inside out. Washington modeled its core principles long before we named them:
How Washington Created More Leaders
📍 He mentored in proximity By surrounding himself with rising leaders like Hamilton, Lafayette, and Madison, he gave real responsibility early. He didn’t just command – he cultivated.
📍 He taught through restraint Washington’s most powerful lessons came when he gave up power: resigning his military role, stepping down after two presidential terms. These actions weren’t just personal decisions – they were public lessons in how to lead ethically.
📍 He codified the culture From his Farewell Address to early decisions around presidential behavior, Washington embedded values into systems. He didn’t just lead in his time – he made leadership repeatable.
📍 He created psychological safety Washington’s presence was steady, principled, and calm. People didn’t follow out of fear. They followed because his leadership made them feel capable – and called.
This is the heart of our CREATE model:
🌀 Culture – Leadership sets the tone
🤝 Relationships – Trust is the foundation
🎯 Execution – Strategy + discipline = credibility
🌱 Adaptability – Roles evolve, and so must we
📚 Teaching – Leadership should outlast the leader
⚖️ Ethics – Integrity is legacy
Washington’s genius wasn’t just what he did. It’s what he enabled.
At Goode Design, we help organizations do the same. Our cohort-based leadership programs help you reduce turnover, build internal capacity, and design a culture where new leaders grow – not get thrown in.
Because the purpose of leadership is simple: to create more leaders.
📩 Let’s talk about how CREATE can help you build the bench your future depends on.
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