While no battle was fought at Valley Forge, it became the turning point of the Revolutionary War. It was at Valley Forge that the Continental Army was desperately against the ropes and ready to quit. Even General Washington conceded, “If the army does not get help soon, in all likelihood it will disband.”
This rag-tag group of rebels that made up Washington’s troops were beaten and battle-weary. Their lack of experience, supplies and equipment began to take its toll. With many of these individuals without shoes or boots, one can only imagine the trail of bloody footprints leading into Valley Forge. A long cold winter awaited these men who were driven by a vision of American independence.
Part of the six month Valley Forge experience brought hunger, disease, and discouragement. The bitter cold weather alone was almost more than anyone could ask the soldiers to endure. The future did not appear to be bright.
For some, the extreme cold combined with the shortage of food, and uncertainty were more than they could take. As a result, dozens of men deserted the effort. Disease was rampant and death was an ever present reminder of their desperate condition.
Early spring began to see a slight improvement. In February the brutal cold weather began to ease.
General Nathanael Greene was appointed head of the Commissary Department in March. His oversight improved the flow of food and supplies to the soldiers. By April, Baron von Steuben, whose experience as a General Staff Member in the Prussian Army, began to train and educate the soldiers helping to transform these threadbare troops into a fighting force.
The same month Baron von Steuben began transforming the troops, the Conway Cabal, a plot to remove George Washington from power by others who were disappointed with the lack of success, was finally put down never to be discussed again. More good news flowed in as word of the French Alliance was confirmed. This alliance would bring much needed military and financial support from France. Although the Revolutionary War would not end for another 5 years, the tide was beginning to turn for the Continental Army.
On June 19, 1778, exactly six months after the Americans arrived, a new army anxious to fight the British streamed out of Valley Forge toward New Jersey. They had been transformed from Rebel into a Mature Army.
Lessons Learned
This Valley Forge experience is a good reminder that at times individuals and organizations can experience a “season” of discouragement after suffering a loss. That loss could be in the form of a large contract failing to be signed, a key employee accepting a job with a competitor, a leader making the wrong decision, a large sale not coming to fruition or a relationship with a strategic vendor falling apart.
The Continental Army’s experience of limping into Valley Forge only to emerge as a fierce fighting force can help us to learn five principles for dealing with defeat, disappointment and discouragement in our own lives and the lives of our teams.
Regroup
After suffering a series of losses, organizations, sports teams and military planners will often regroup in order to determine where there may be a problem. Regrouping isn’t looking for and identifying a scapegoat, but an opportunity to study the game plan, shore up a weakness or make a necessary change.
Winston Churchill said, “To improve is to change; to perfect is to change often.”
Refocus
It’s easy to lose sight of the goal and the reasons for attempting to achieve it when everything around you seems to be falling apart. Failing to see an individual or team effort achieve success can be disheartening. The lack of victories, food, clothing, shelter and supplies created a distraction for many in the Continental Army which is why so many of them deserted. Teams can easily become distracted when they experience multiple defeats.
A football team that starts off the season with an 0-4 record can easily be so discouraged they cannot bounce back. In 1992 the San Diego Charges beat all the odds after a dismal start ending up 0-4 to begin with. After bi-week, they were able to refocus their efforts and won 9 of their next 10 games becoming the only team to qualify for the play-offs after an 0-4 start. Refocusing on the goal, mission or desired results can sometimes be necessary to bring things back into perspective.
It’s been said the successful person is the average person focused.
Refine
With the efforts of Baron von Steuben, the once individually minded members of the Continental Army became a refined fighting force who understood the significance of working as a team. No longer did troops do their own thing, they worked together, understood the objective and were all on the same page. When teams and organizations regroup and refocus, they sometimes learn part of the refining process is making necessary changes. Refusing to make adjustments can bring about disastrous results.
Through the pitch-black night, the captain sees a light dead ahead on a collision course with his ship. He sends a signal: “Change your course ten degrees east.” The light signals back: “Change yours, ten degrees west.” Angry, the captain sends: “I’m a Navy captain! Change your course, sir!” “I’m a seaman, second class,” comes the reply. “Change your course, sir.” Now the captain is furious. “I’m a battleship! I’m not changing course!” There’s one last reply. “I’m a lighthouse. Your call.”
Occasionally, a change of direction is required to bring about the desired results.
Re-energize
As the Continental Army marched out of Valley Forge that June morning in 1778, they were renewed and re-energized. What appeared to be their darkest hour exactly six months earlier became their brightest moment. The long winter, as difficult as it was, allowed time to be trained, drilled and educated in the ways of military operations. As a result, their confidence in themselves and each other grew immensely. They were transformed from bloody and beaten into a battle ready brigade of fighting men.
Re-engage
After making it through the long winter months, it would have been easy to call it a day and disband. Why go through another series of battles only to suffer loss and defeat? There’s no comparing what occurs in the board room to what occurs on the battle field. But much can be learned from military strategy and the men and women who carry it out.
Defeat, disappointment and discouragement are part of life, however, they don’t have to be the final statement of one’s life. Defeat, disappointment and discouragement should be the motivating factors that drive the desire for success.
After a failure, loss, or defeat, whether in one’s personal or professional life, it’s understandable and sometimes necessary to pull back. The final part of that equation is to come back.
It’s important to take time to regroup, refocus, refine, be re-energized and most importantly, re-engage in the process.