Critical Essay of Ulysses S. Grant This essay analyzes the leadership style and philosophies of the great American, Ulysses S. Grant, using the book Ulysses S. Grant by Joshua Bunting III. The book details Grant’s entire life beginning with his childhood days working for his father in the tannery, his military life, the time he spent in the White House as President, and his struggles after his presidency. I chose to write about Grant because of his accomplishments as president and being credited with being the general that took down Lee to end the Civil War and savior of the union. Grant was a real leader that Lincoln learned he could trust. In fact, Lincoln referred to Grant as “the only general I could count on”. Grant was an excellent
…show more content…
When Grant was a young boy he was actually quite naive and was not among the smartest in his class. One day, his father knowing that Grant had a great deal of knowledge about horses, sent him to see a man who was selling a horse. Grant’s father gave him twenty-five dollars and told him to try and get the horse twenty dollars, but he could spend up to twenty-five dollars. When he arrived, Grant openly told the man that his papa said he could spend up to twenty-five dollars for the horse, and the man quickly sold Grant the horse for twenty-five …show more content…
Grant was a leader that embodied all of these qualities. Kouzes and Posner (2012), concluded that leadership is not a trait that someone is born with, rather something that can be learned. Grant was a true testament to this theory. Grant, for the most part, had a very lackluster career in the military until he was called back into service for the Civil War. Grant learned much of his leadership skills from Generals Zachary Taylor and General Winfield Scott. The Mexican War was Grant’s first opportunity to show his leadership abilities. Grant won several battles when he was allowed to lead troops. It was during the war with Mexico that Grant really began to learn how to lead from General Zachary Taylor and General Winfield Scott. It was Taylor 's leadership style that Grant appreciated the most so he spent his time observing Taylor the most.
Challenge the
When Grant was a young boy he was actually quite naive and was not among the smartest in his class. One day, his father knowing that Grant had a great deal of knowledge about horses, sent him to see a man who was selling a horse. Grant’s father gave him twenty-five dollars and told him to try and get the horse twenty dollars, but he could spend up to twenty-five dollars. When he arrived, Grant openly told the man that his papa said he could spend up to twenty-five dollars for the horse, and the man quickly sold Grant the horse for twenty-five …show more content…
Grant was a leader that embodied all of these qualities. Kouzes and Posner (2012), concluded that leadership is not a trait that someone is born with, rather something that can be learned. Grant was a true testament to this theory. Grant, for the most part, had a very lackluster career in the military until he was called back into service for the Civil War. Grant learned much of his leadership skills from Generals Zachary Taylor and General Winfield Scott. The Mexican War was Grant’s first opportunity to show his leadership abilities. Grant won several battles when he was allowed to lead troops. It was during the war with Mexico that Grant really began to learn how to lead from General Zachary Taylor and General Winfield Scott. It was Taylor 's leadership style that Grant appreciated the most so he spent his time observing Taylor the most.
Challenge the