Leadership is not about titles, positions or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another. In the Odyssey, Odysseus needed to make a lot of decisions that are right for himself and his crew. He needed to get out of hard situations without loosing crew member or loosing his own life. Odysseus was a strong leader and did everything he could to help his crew because he needed to find a way out Cyclops' cave and he needed to choose whether or not he wanted to lose 6 crew members or lose everything.
To begin with, Odysseus goes on this journey to get back home to Ithaca but, along the way him and his crew get in situations and Odysseus needs to find a way out in order to live. The story, The Cyclops, it states, "Three abreast I tied them silently together, twining cords of willow from ogre's bed; then slung a man under each middle one to ride there safely, shielded left and right." Odysseus and his crew needed to figure out a way
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In the story, The Cyclops, he had to either be eaten alive or figure out a way out of the cave. Odysseus and his crew members found a good way out. In the story, The Sirens Scylla and Charybdis, Odysseus needed to make a good decision that best helped him get out of that situation, he either had to choose going through Charybdis, which was a maelstrom, and lose everything including the ship or chose Scylla and lose 6 members of his crew. He chose to go through Scylla. All in all, it can be concluded that Odysseus was the strongest he could be and did everything he could. Sometimes people just give up and stop fighting but not Odysseus or his men, they all kept fighting and working together to get back home to Ithaca faster. No matter the situation, keep fighting and be a good leader not only for yourself but for
In utmost adventurous stories the author provides an explanation of the hero's journeys, fights, revenges, and returning to their hometown. The Odyssey, Odysseus goes on a long trip with his men and all of them have died except for himself. The main character was about to sail through the Sirens and he had to warn his men by saying, "Then we die with our eyes open if we are going to die or know what death we battle if we can"(Homer 581). Since the Sirens use their voices to lure men into their death, he had a tactic that helped them sail through easily: Odysseus took some beeswax and started to roll it up until it softens so no one listens to their songs, but himself.
Even though he got them to safety he was still devastated by the fact he couldn't get all his men to safety. Another reason why he should get nominated for a leadership award is because some of his men ate the lotus fruit and no longer wish to return home, Odysseus refuses to leave the island without them. He goes to shore, find them, and makes them return to the ship. He knows in their hearts that's they want to return to their families in Ithaca as much as he does, and so he refuses to listen to their protest that they want to remain where they are. These are all good traits, a determined mind set, and a great attitude, a responsible
Odysseus was an effective and an ineffective leader for many reasons. One example is when Odysseus’ didn’t tell his crew that they are going to be killed by the Sirens and Charybdis. An effective leader is suppose to be honest, and in this part of the story Odysseus’ was being dishonest towards his crew by not warning them that they are going to be killed. If Odysseus’ were to be honest to his crew his leadership might have been much more effective, and his crew would’ve been alive. Another example is when Odysseus’ was courageous when he saved his crew from the Lotus Eaters by retreating to the ship.
Even though Odysseus has many things to worry about through his adventure, he manages to make tough decisions for the best interest for him and his men to survive. According to the article, “The Nine Traits that Define Great Leadership,” “ All leaders must make tough decisions”(1). In other words, the best leaders are capable in making difficult decisions in a difficult situation. Odysseus is certainly a decisive leader. Whatever situations come his way he thinks about what him and his men need to do for their best interest and make a decision quickly.
Yes, the terribly challenging circumstances in narrative in which the Odysseus finds himself is a challenge of courage and heroism of which very few would willingly volunteer. His ability to remain courageous in the face of brute beast, the actions of gods and demi-goddesses, and in almost impossible natural and supernatural circumstances certainly admirable. However, it is evident that there are circumstances where his hubris leads him to trust his intellect and wit over more reasonable course of action that not only endanger his life, but the life of his entire
He and his men could have easily left unharmed, but due to Odysseus’ self-centered demeanor they stayed. Although, after this Odysseus does shows cunning skill when he blinds the cyclops and escapes to his ship, but once they are away from the dangers of the island, Odysseus boastingly brags about who brought down the cyclops even though his men told him not to. “God Sake, Captain! Why bait the beast again? Let him alone!
Odysseus sets ship home to Ithaca which then he encounters many challenges like the Sirens, which then he finds enough strength to overcome the odds and continue on the journey home. Odysseus is passing the sirens when his men
Dwight Eisenhower once said, "The supreme quality of leadership is integrity." Odysseus displayed a lack of integrity and poor leadership by not fully communicating all the facts of the situation
I believe that Odysseus is a strong leader, due to the choices and fates he chooses in the story. When Odysseus and his men were stuck in the Cyclops 's cave, Odysseus had to come up with a plan to help the men escape. Due to his bravery, he managed to stab the Cyclops in the eye and free his men from the island. Even though he could have died in the process, he would sacrifice himself for his shipmates to escape. Another example of Odysseus being a great leader, was when he and his men had to travel to the Underworld to find out how to get home.
Three abreast, I tried them silently together, twining cords of willow from the ogre’s be; then slung a man under each middle one to ride there safely, shielded left hand right, “ (lines 418-426) Odysseus was trying to come up with a way to get his men and himself out of Polyphemus’ cave. This quote displays Odysseus’ cleverness when he comes up with the idea to get his men and himself out of Polyphemus’ cave. This quote is significant because Odysseus shows another trait, cleverness, that a good leader has.
He understands if they kill the Cyclops, the entire crew will die. The Cyclops is the only one who is strong enough to carry the rock and lead them to escape from his cave. By not killing the Cyclops, Odysseus saves his whole group of men from death and simply practicing habits of
It’s a classical moral dilemma: do you lie or keep information from those you care about in order to better their lives, or do you tell them the truth, and risk ruining the relationship or potentially, some aspect of their life. This problem is portrayed in many forms of media, and it’s not always handled the same way. In The Odyssey, the protagonist, Odysseus, is forced to make this decision, with the negative outlook being the death of his crew members. As the leader, Odysseus is the one faced with making such decisions. While he initially has poor leadership skills at the beginning of his journey, Odysseus does have great potential as a leader, and as such, his leadership skills grow over the course of The Odyssey.
Odysseus’ heroic qualities cause him to gain respect throughout the community as he was a great leader on and off the battlefield. Odysseus uses his intellect to trick and outsmart opponents during his 20-year journey. Odysseus, going through these tough battles, had to suffer losses. Odysseus was that kind of man that cared for his men and mourned them, but he knew that life must go on. That lead to a caring side of him that is expressed as he goes through the monster Scylla and whirlpool Charybdis (Homer, 821, page 1010).
A leader always has strength, but it is what the leader does with the strength that makes him or her great. In the epic poem, The Odyssey, by Homer, Odysseus leads his men home after the Trojan War and during his journey, many conflicts occur. Odysseus is a good leader because he is motivated and has strong communication skills that help him to control his men, but also convince the crew to keep going so they may reach home. Odysseus’ motivation to return home is evident throughout many circumstances. Odysseus explains to Calypso one of the reasons why he must return home: “Yet, it is true, each day I long for home, long for the sight of home”
The son of Laertes, King of Ithaca, father of Telemachus, husband of Penelope and in many eyes a hero. During the Trojan War, Odysseus was credited with the idea of constructing a massive hollow wooden horse to be seen as a peace offering to the Trojans. Little did the Trojans know that this horse housed Odysseus and others who during the late night opened the gates of Troy to let their comrades inside. After an all out slaughter of the town the war was over. It took twenty years for Odysseus to return home and along the way encountered many challenges where he demonstonstated wisdom, loyalty, and skill which revealed his true character.