Leadership is a process. Specifically, leadership requires listening, responding, and holding you...

1. Accountability

1.1. Calling Out Bad Behavior

1.1.1. Nestor rises between Achilles and Agamemnon and tries to convince them to stop arguing with each other in favor of working together to defeat the Trojans. Iliad 1.254-284

1.1.2. Athena comes down from Olympus to stop Achilles from killing Agamemnon. She knows that Achilles killing Agamemnon would not bring favor with the gods, and she comands Achilles to obey. Iliad 1.207-214

1.1.3. While Odysseus sleeps his men slay one of the holy cattle, and as he realizes what they have done he prays to Zeus acknowledging the terrible deed they commited. Odyssey 12.370-372

1.2. Honoring, praising, and recognizing the achievements of others

1.2.1. Odysseus leads an embassy to the temple of Apollo to offer sacrifice and worship to atone for the misconduct of Agamemnon. Along with this, throughout the Iliad there are many sacrifices made to honor the gods. Iliad 1.430-475

1.2.2. After suffering at the hands of Zeus and the Trojans, Agamenon finally admits to being ready to give honor to Achilles. He realizes how important Achilles is to the army and for victory, and mostly sets aside his pride for the betterment of the Greeks. Iliad 9.115-156

1.2.3. When Odysseus meets Achilles in the underworld he is quick to praise him for all of his deeds during his life, and even says that he has great power among the dead. Odyssey 11.477-487

1.3. Managing your emotional states and responses

1.3.1. A great lack of this skill is shown in book one of the Iliad as Achilles and Agamemnon nearly kill each other over a disagreement of honor.

1.3.2. Even though Odysseus is filled with grief in the underworld as he encounters his mother, he pushes forward to eet the other spirits and learn all that he can. Odyssey 11.226-232

2. Responsiveness

2.1. Developing A Solution to A Problem

2.1.1. When Agamemnon suggests retreating, the Greek army begins to flee. Odysseus, realizing this would lead to disaster, swiftly intervenes, using both persuasion and force to rally the troops back to battle. (Iliad Book 2, lines 188-210).

2.2. Making A Decision on Behalf of the Community

2.2.1. Hector, as the leader of Troy, understands that facing Achilles is his responsibility, even though it may lead to his death. His decision to stand and fight is made for the good of his people, embodying the weight of leadership. (Iliad Book 22, lines 99-130).

2.3. Adaptability/Readiness to Adapt

3. Communication

3.1. Speaking publicly about an issue people should care about

3.1.1. Odysseus compells the collective group strategically, appealing to their sense of honor while also listening to their frustration (Iliad 2. 284-332.

3.1.2. Odysseus appeals to Alcinous and the Phaenicians by explaining his journey and suffering. the reason being, to convince them to support him and provide him the means to return to Ithaca (Odyssey 9.)

3.2. Using careful, clear, and compelling language

3.2.1. Nestor advices Agamemnon on how to organize and evalutate ability/loyalty of soldiers (Iliad 2. 360-367).

3.2.2. Odysseus reassures his crew, referring to his previous successes and ideas as assurance that he and his men will be able to navigate and survive the sirens. Odyssey 12. Lines 208-222.)

3.3. Articulating a vision for the community

3.3.1. Agamemnon explains his dream, and showcases his desire and plan to organize and takeover Troy (Iliad 2. 56-83)

4. Reciprocity

4.1. Listening to and understanding others

4.1.1. Achilles and Priam were vulnerable with each other and listened to each others' sorrows and came to an understanding, even though they were enemies (Iliad 24.485-620)

4.2. Building Trust

4.2.1. There is room for improvement for trust. At the very beginning of the book we see Achilles and Agamemnon fight, rather than working together they push each other away which continues through most the book (Iliad 1.121-244.)

4.2.2. Odysseus, Phoenix, and Ajax go to Achilles and work on building trust in order to get Achilles to join the war again. Although it is not successful, they still work to reconcile and rebuild that bond (Iliad 9.226-655)

4.3. Cultivating Gratitute and Concern

4.3.1. Odysseus goes back to Circe's island in order to give Elpenor a proper funeral and to grieve and cry for him, which shows the gratitude and care he has for his men. (Odyssey 12.1-16)

5. Leadership By Example

5.1. Putting the Group Over Yourself

5.1.1. when diomedes and hector choose to fight one on one

5.1.2. Achilles often puts his needs over the needs of the group, demonstrating a lack of leadership by example. In book one of the Iliad he begs his mother to ask Zeus to aid the Trojans, effectivley dooming his fellow Greeks for the sake of his own pride. Iliad 1.394-412

5.2. Taking initiative

5.2.1. Odysseus brings many of the soldiers back after Agamemnon tells them all to go home. He shows great initiative in this because he is not the full leader of the aarmy, and yet he is the one to give them faith in the cause and in Agamemnon. Illiad 2.182-332

5.2.2. Diomedes speaks out against Agamemnon when Agamemnon has lost faith in their army. He steps up and inspires even though they lack faith. (Iliad 9.31-49)

5.3. Modeling good behavior

5.3.1. Hector shows great leading by example when he refuses to stay out of battle when his wife pleads with him to stop. This is modeling ideal behavior for the time, as if he were to stay out of battle, his soldiers may be disheartened that their leader had abandoned them. Iliad 6.441-444

6. Serving as a Mentor

6.1. Finding a Good Mentor

6.1.1. Phoenix serves as a father figure to Achilles. "So I suffered much for you and labored much... godlike Achilles, I tried to make you my son" (Iliad 9.491-494). Phoenix emphasizes the deep relationship they share, showing emotional investment.

6.2. Avoiding a Bad Mentor

6.2.1. Achilles doesn't heed Agamemnon's authority after being insuled by him. When talking to the daughter of Zeus, Achilles recognizes that following Agamemnon would be wrong. "Why do you come again... Is it to witness the outrage of Agamemnon?" (Iliad 1.202-203)

6.3. Teaching Someone

6.3.1. Achilles teaches Patroclus to stay focused regarding the mission, and not to pursue the Trojans too harshly. "After you have driven the Trojans from the ships, come back... you must not, without me, strive to battle the war loving Trojans; you you will render me less honored" (Iliad 16.87-90).