After reading the synopsis of the Odyssey, I think Odysseus is an ineffective leader. Even though he does have many successes, the majority of the time he has very little influence and control over his crew’s faith in his leadership. In the Aeolus and the Aeolian Bag, Odysseus should have been open to his crew about what was in the bag and explain the repercussions about opening the bag while they were at sea. Due to the fact that Odysseus kept from his crew on what was actually in the bag, his crew assumed that Odysseus was keeping treasure all to himself. “ Thus they talked an evil counsels prevailed.” (p. 8) If he had told his men that the bag was full of winds, they would have not been blown away off course. This should have been a sign to Odysseus that his crew did not view him as a credible leader.
During The Sirens, I do not think Odysseus was wise to have his men tie him to the mast. I do think it was wise to have his men fill their ears with wax, since we have learned that his men are easily manipulated by immediate gratification. He did not think of the ramifications of being tied up. He gave warning to his crew to watch out for him being manipulated by the sirens. He should have known that once the crew had put wax in…show more content… Odysseus men did not listen to his advice about leaving the sun god’s cattle alone. It did not help that Odysseus’s second in command; Eurylochus did not have the same views or values as him. Eurylochus made Odysseus out to be the enemy by not allowing his men to sleep and eat on the island. Eurylochus expressed, “you will not let them land and cook themselves a good supper upon this island.” (p. 20) Eurylochus should have trusted his leader, knowing that he was only looking out for the best of the crew. Once followers witness leaders not having cohesion, followers see that as a weakness in the leadership’s
