Being a leader is a very honorable and important status. To be a good leader you need to possess certain qualities related to your personality and skills. Leaders must be above their followers in certain ways, such as levels of knowledge and preparedness for whatever may come their way. They must be superior to provide others with a good figure to follow, learn from and willingly respect. Leaders also have more expectations and responsibilities that they must meet. In the Odyssey, it is clear that Odysseus has earned respect and status as a leader for the people of Ithaca. They readily call him their king and leave many responsibilities in his hands. Throughout his journey, Odysseus proves himself worthy of this reputation by how he navigates the challenges he faces and transports his men. Overall, Odysseus is a good leader because he is courageous, thoughtful, and intelligent. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay First, Odysseus demonstrates his ability to be a good leader by being strong in everything he goes through throughout the epic. He is brave at first as he leads his people in the Trojan War. After that, he remains just as strong in the face of Poseidon's anger and the journey that awaits him. In Polyphemus' cave, Odysseus at first shows no fear when facing and speaking to the Cyclopes. When he realizes that his men are in danger, he has faith in an escape plan and takes the risks to carry it out. Before leading the mission to blind Polyphemus, Odysseus even considered attacking the Cyclops himself. “So I resolved in my great heart, whether I should come near, and tear my sharp sword from my thigh, and stab him in the breast, where the navel holds the liver, feeling the place with my hand.” Afterwards, the group was stranded on Circe's island and its men were transformed into animals by the goddess. Odysseus bravely pursued his men and was determined to save them from his curse. He confronted Circe and slept with her to turn his men back into humans, proving his courage and trustworthiness as a leader. There were other times when Odysseus showed his courage, such as when he traveled to the underworld, and many others. These were just some of the major events in the epic that showcased his acts of valor, but still supported his ability to be a good leader. Additionally, Odysseus proved himself to be a true leader by being thoughtful. During the Odyssey, he led his men well by thinking through each situation. He considered how to deal with every problem and always did what was best for his people. For example, when they arrived in the Land of the Lotus Eaters, Odysseus ordered three of his men to explore the island for danger, rather than immediately investigating the situation. So he was thoughtful in the sense that he cared about his men and their well-being. The three men were placed under a spell in which they forgot their way home, but Odysseus forcibly returned them to the ship. “Therefore I led them back to the ships crying and in pain against their will, dragged them under the benches and tied them in the hollow boats.” This shows that he truly cared about his men and kept their well-being in mind, regardless of the circumstances. Later, in the cave of the Cyclops, Odysseus also showed how thoughtful he was as he led his people through a well-thought-out plan to save them from the Cyclopes. So, thoughtfulness is clearly another trait Odysseus uses to make him a stronger leader. Additionally, Odysseus is very intelligent, which is another strong trait that leaders should possess. For example, Ulysses said,.