The Leadership Challenges Of Odysseus

The Odyssey is an epic poem written by Homer and centers around Odysseus and his adventures on his way home from the trojan war. During these adventures, Odysseus leads his men to different islands and through various obstacles. Many people often question Odysseus' leadership. Should Odysseus receive a nomination for a leadership award? I on the other hand believe that Odysseus should not receive a leadership award. Odysseus lacks some qualities of a great leader such as communication, being selfless, and good decision making. Odysseus' communication skills towards his men throughout the odyssey is not the best, and that's not good considering that Odysseus is the leader. I read an article about "Top 10 Qualities …show more content…
Odysseus' selfishness costed him the lives of many of his men while in the cave with the cyclops. As a leader Odysseus should put his needs and what he feels last and everyone one of his men first. While on the island with the cyclops, Odysseus' men suggested to him that they steal the food and cattle and get away from the island. Odysseus refused his men's suggestion and ended up losing many of them all because he did what he felt was right and necessary. In Nicolas Cole's article, "The Brutal Truth Why Being a Leader Is So Hard", he touches upon why being a leader isn't as easy as it sounds. In paragraphs 13 and 14 he states that, "As a leader it's up to you to put yourself second, and operate in a way that allows others to feel at ease, to feel understood, and to work in the way that's best for them—even if it's not the way you operate". Cole is saying that as a leader you have to put yourself last and work in a way that's comfortable for everyone else. Odysseus needs to not only work in a way that's good for him, but also good for his men too. Odysseus' judgement in this situation proves that he doesn't show all the qualities of a great …show more content…
Odysseus showed this trait when he and his men were trying to escape from the cyclops. That is true however, Odysseus is bad when it comes to making decisions. Odysseus made a bad decision when going into the cyclops cave instead of taking the food and leaving the island, he also made a bad decision when Circe put Odysseus' men into a trance. Odysseus could have just begged Circe to let his men go home but, Odysseus being Odysseus waited a whole year until he finally begs her to let his men go home. That was bad decision making on Odysseus' part. In conclusion, Odysseus should not be nominated for a leadership award because he lacks some of the qualities of a great leader such as communication, being selfless, and making decisions. Odysseus isn't the best when it comes to communication and making decisions, which both affects not only him, but his team too. Odysseus does what he feels is right and ignores what his men have to say in tough situations. Do you want to nominate a leader who lacks the proper communication skills, is selfish and bad at making decisions? Most people wouldn't and so should you