Introduction
The word “Leadership” is sometimes confusing and difficult to understand. Many scholars and political scientists in the leadership discipline have tried to define what exactly comprises a leader. Theories and various distinctive perceptions have been developed in the quest to describe what it entails to be a real leader. Yet, a truly definitive answer is still to be found. This essay uses Garry Wills book “Certain Trumpet” to describe the character of a real leader. The chosen individual from the book on whose the element of leadership will be explored is General Robert Edward Lee. The essay will reflect on a real leader who as Wills notes disseminates much more than mere influence.
General Robert E. Lee
A real leader is one who does much more than just vaguely affect on others. According to Wills, the leader is one who takes the passionate initiative to match followers towards a common objective held by all. It is this objective that then defines the kind of leadership (Wills 6). According to Wills, leadership is distinguished by the goals of the leader and not just their personality. General Robert E. Lee’s life and career in military provide insights of who a leader can be. To a great extent, Lee matches the definition described by Mr. Wills. Specifically, Lee’s deeds and commitment all through his life as a soldier tells it all. However, Lee could not fit the famous general definition - that a leader is one who enforces certain motives through mobilizing people in conflict with others so as to ascertain and satisfy the motive of followers.
General Lee’s leadership attributes were clearly evident. On a critical view, Lee’s principles of determination, loyalty and awareness discern away from the loud trumpet. Looking at Lee’s biography in brief, he was a master tactician and a winner. Even during Lee’s early life in the army, his work records were exemplary. Lee was never afraid to take a frontline initiative and accomplish the objective of the army at any given time. More so, he could to it with great tactical awareness hence his great success. In the Confederate army, Lee’s commander chose him to lead although he encountered several opponents. Lee’s superb organization, even with few resources, made him defeat superior opponents with ease. His great attitude and ambition attracted the attention of then the president – Abraham Lincoln – who proposed to him to be the leader of the nation’s army at the civil war.
The president’s call hit on deaf ears since Robert Lee loyalty to his state – Virginia – could not let him be attracted to other ventures, even the calls of the President. Worse enough, Lee went to vote for Virginia to secede from the US. More so, he led Virginia forces and was determined to succeed during several wars. His tactics were superb and superior to his enemies, and he won every single battle until it finally not possible to do so anymore. At the very end, Lee saw nothing more than to give in and surrender. Therefore, without any fear whatsoever, Lee surrendered to General Grant. That was an act of courage and personal sacrifice. In response, even after being branded as a traitor of the nation, Lincoln and Grant forgave him and utilized his leadership skills by pointing Lee as the president of Washington College.
Leadership Category
Lee’s leadership traits suit him best in the military leader category in accordance with Mr. Wills’ sixteen categories of leadership. Even though I could be tempted to categorize Lee under the intellectual or even charismatic category, I think his life description, motivation and determination to accomplish his army duties makes him more of a great military leader. According to Mr. Wills (39), a military leader is one described by his accomplishment in war. Lee is the person who devoted his life to achieve the objective of his group. He was never intimidated or even opportunistic at any given point. Lee’s “followers” or the group he guided were all motivated and religiously followed his direction. This implies that Lee’s leadership was not only about being influential to others, but he also had the inner drive to make them successful. On the charismatic side of, the man’s style and attitude was admirable among populations.
Conclusion
As discussed above, General Robert E. Lee’s military life perfectly matches the Mr. Wills’s definition of a military leader. Lee was not blowing the loud trumpet, but the “certain trumpet” as Wills describes. He was worth the hype of the followers as opposed to many “antitype” leaders. Even though Lee’s life was marked with conflict, confusion and even – ambiguity – as some may describe him, he always listened to the “certain trumpet” but not the noisy ones when it came doing his job. Even with the age of slavery, Lee’s opinion was that it was inhuman to enslave others. He was that charismatic warrior who stood by what he believed in, especially when it was for the benefit of his followers.
Works Cited
Wills, Garry. Certain Trumpets: The Call of Leaders. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2013. Print.
