The Leadership and ethics of Robert E. Lee

The Leadership and ethics of Robert E . Lee

Introduction

In this essay an attempt is made to study the role of Robert Lee in the civil war . We will also try to discuss the possibility of application of leadership strategies in the present business context

Analysis

Most of the scholars who wrote about Robert Lee agree that he showed great character and he was an epitome of ethical leadership . Even before he joined the US army and played a significant role in the American civil war , he proved that he was

great man . He firmly believed in the principles such as duty and loyalty towards his superiors and to the nation . His ethical values have inspired large number of people , both army men and other categories of people in American society including the businessmen . The ethical values professed by Robert Lee if applied properly in business , would lead to positive results . Lee belonged to Aristocratic family of America . Naturally his family background instilled in him sense of duty , loyalty and sincerity . These qualities were strengthened when he obtained military training (2005 ) The scholars have studied the leadership qualities exhibited by Lee during the days when he obtained military training . He was able to develop these qualities due to the experience he obtained in the Mexican wars and the civil war of America (Freeman , 1934

He demonstrated the quality of courage and determination in the Mexican war . After this war , he was promoted as the colonel , which provided him an opportunity to exhibit his leadership qualities . Not surprisingly Lee has been referred to as the knight of America . He showed various noble values of the earlier noblemen of America . He compared secession to revolution , which would disturb the internal solidarity of America He did not like the dissolution of the union of America . When civil war broke out , Lee thought that it was his duty to come to the rescue of his native state . He provided his leadership and military strategic tactics to the Confederacy . Lee was able to quickly realize the nature of the military combat and he devised his military strategy and took immediate decisions . He instilled sense of duty and devotion among his subordinate soldiers . The army of Lee obtained victory in some wars and also suffered reverses in other wars . The various military scholars have discussed the strategic leadership of Lee . In spite of his leadership qualities , Lee was not able to achieve victory against the military might of the union . This failure of Lee was due to lack of production capability and supplies by the confederate states . Nevertheless , he demonstrated his qualities of a great leader and he believed in one principle called duty . The civil war was a tragic and one of the bloodiest episodes in the American history and there were losses of life and property on both the sides . There was need for great leadership to overcome the war damages . During the war periods , Lee showed great sense of duty as he refused...