Reference no: EM133184110
To appreciate the impressive length of the history of strategic leadership we will refer to the epic story of Gilgamesh-most likely the oldest leadership story there is. This epic story involves the main hero by the name of Gilgamesh being exposed to all sorts of challenges. We want to make a point that even thousands of years ago a hero needed to take into account the input of a variety of opinion leaders and allow others to lead. To familiarize yourself with this ancient example and view An Old Babylonian Version of the Gilgamesh Epic by Anonymous.
Please note that you are not required to read the whole story. Your task is to quickly find out what the story of Gilgamesh depicts and when it was written in order to appreciate, understand and respond to the question formulated below. Having a look at the pictures of the epic tablets will also help you appreciate how old strategic leadership is-talk about today's pressures for a strategic leader who has to fill out very big shoes of heroes while dealing with today's pressures.
In this text, in both the old Babylonian and the Assyrian versions there is the appeal of the woman to Enkidu, to allow her to lead him to Erech where Gilgamesh dwells (ibidem, Pennsylvania tablet lines 54-61 = Assyrian version I, 4, 36-39).
Moreover, in other versions of this text, the elders of Erech reconciled to the perilous undertaking, counsel Gilgamesh to take provisions along for the undertaking. They urge Gilgamesh to allow Enkidu to take the lead, for, "He is acquainted with the way, he has trodden the road [to] the entrance of the forest." (lines 252-253)
Based on this Unit's readings, the two examples from the epic of Gilgamesh and your own experience, please answer the following question:
- To what extent should a strategic leader be supporting others to lead and what outcomes might be expected from this practice?
- Think about your own ideas about leading as a form of building other leaders -- personally what are your beliefs and practices to this end?