Odysseus as a Leader Essay Example

Naturally, good leaders are rare. However, once in a blue moon, we come across strong and brilliant leaders such as Homer’s Odysseus from the Odyssey. Many argue Odysseus is not a good leader, but evidence suggests otherwise. Although Odysseus has committed acts of hubris, he is an adept leader because he’s quick at making decisions, saved his men on multiple occasions, and he is loyal to his mission.

It’s not always easy to make a good plan. Yet- day in, day out, Odysseus makes quick decisions and formulates plans. Protecting his men is not something new to him. One of his quick decisions is quoted, “My name is Nohbdy: mother, father, and friends, everyone calls me Nohbdy” (Homer, 569). Odysseus’s use of the name Nobhdy saved his men from the other Cyclopes  and helped them escape Polyphemus’s cave. There are, in many respects, countless other times Odysseus’s quick thinking has gotten him and his men out of a tough situation. Odysseus is no stranger to a quick fix, such as when, “I carved a massive cake of beeswax into bits and rolled them in my hands until they softened- no long task, for a burning heat came down from Helios, lord of high noon” (582). His use of beeswax to plug his crew's ears got them safely through the land of the Sirens. No matter the situation, from Sirens to an angry Cyclops, Odysseus can quickly manufacture a plan. Odysseus’s quick-thinking is a great skill for a leader to possess.

Undoubtedly, Leaders save their team plenty of times. Moreover, Odysseus is another example of such a leader. An exhibit of Odysseus’s leadership includes, “...we bored that great eye socket while blood ran out around the red-hot bar” (570). Odysseus knew they couldn’t escape the cave if Polyphemus was killed, so Odysseus thought up a plan. Crippling the Cyclops rather than killing him aided their escape. His quick plans prove his skill as a leader. His abilities to save his men are not far and few between. “Three abreast I tied them silently together, twining cords of willow from the ogre’s bed; then slung a man under each middle one to ride there safely, shielded left and right” (571). The sheep calmly left the cave with the crew under their bellies, and Odysseus saved his men yet again. Whether with a red-hot bar or three sheep, Odysseus can save his men. The ability to save one's crew from a tough situation is an important quality to boast in a leadership position.

Similarly, steadfast and devoted leaders can lead a team with hardiness. Additionally, Odysseus is an example of a devout and robust leader; “I drove them, all three wailing, to the ships, tied them down under their rowing benches, and called the rest: ‘All hands aboard; come, clear the beach and no one taste the Lotus, or you lose your hope of home’” (565). His loyalty to his mission and his longing to go home locks in his ability as a leader. Further, Odysseus’s loyalty to his mission is no hindrance to his capabilities as a leader. His efforts as a leader push him to, “...tie me up, tight as a splint, erect along the mast, lashed to the mast, and if I shout and beg to be untied, take more turns of the rope to muffle me” (581). Odysseus’s commitment to his mission compels him to sacrifice himself for his men and for the sake of the mission. Odysseus has an unbreakable allegiance to his mission, so strong he would try desperately to get his men home. Commitment is a necessary component of a leader.

Ultimately, Odysseus exhibits great skill and commitment as a leader. His keen decision making, ability to rescue his crew and save a situation, and fidelity to his mission are only a few of the reasons Odysseus makes an excellent leader. Odysseus stays resilient in tight situations, such as leading his men past Scylla and Charybdis. Although Odysseus has his flaws, that doesn’t revoke his abilities as a leader. No good leader is without flaws or weaknesses, as no one is perfect. With that in mind, do a few mistakes immediately render someone’s capabilities and positive aspects useless? No, although the negatives will always be there, the positive aspects will always remain prominent.