Prompt #1. Concrete Evidence: Find a specific passage (short quote and page number) in Horwitz’s book, which allows you to assess Captain Cook’s leadership effectiveness. ALSO provide two or three direct references from the Kouzes and Posner textbook (with short quotes and page numbers), to show that you are combining our course material directly with the historical text at hand. Connect more than one of the Five Practices to some evidence from Cook’s life. I think I am one of the few people in our course that thinks Captain Cook was more of an ineffective leader than an effective leader, however when it came to his influence and direction to battle scurvy, I thought his methods were very effective. Cook “encouraged them to take cold seawater baths and enforced regular cleaning of hammocks, bedding, and clothes. ” (Horwitz, 2002, p. 24) I think Cook was able to model the way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process and enabled other to act with his influences on the crew’s hygiene habits.
He modeled the way by leading by example. Everything he expected the crew to do hygiene wise, Cook did it as well. The book mentions, “to effectively model the way, you must first be clear about your own guiding principles. ” (Kouzes & Posner, 2012, p. 15) Cook shared his vision to the crew knowing that inspiring them to have healthy habits would benefit everyone. The text says, “The dream, or vision, is the force that creates the future. ” (Kouzes & Posner, 2012, p. 17) “Leaders are pioneers, willing to step out into the unknown. ‘ (Kouzes & Posner, 2012, p. 8) Cook challenged the process because he did something different and was willing to change their old habits. Due to the fact, which Cook was successful in modeling the way, he enabled others to act. By leading by example, Captain Cook fostered “collaboration by building trust and facilitating relationships” with the crew with his innovation for change. (Kouzes & Posner, 2012, p. 20) Prompt #2. More Concrete Evidence: Find another passage in Horwitz’s book that provides you with evidence of leadership effectiveness, and (as in Prompt #1) connect it directly with Kouzes and Posner.
Tiffany Lager had a discussion post that made me see aspects of Cook’s effective leadership that I had failed to think of. She mentions that the fact that he was able to sail through three voyages was a way of demonstrating his leadership. In addition she wrote about how even when things got really bad for the crew and the ship’s conditions, Cook still managed to keep the ship and crew moving forward. “The survivors, most of whom were ill themselves, had to cope not only with the dying all around them, but also with sailing the undermanned ship”. (Horwitz, 2002, p. 99) Horwitz expresses that Cook struggled with the death and dealt with it by putting the blame on the dead crewmembers. Even though I think this is cowardly behavior, technically this way of thinking kept him and the crew going. In a sense Cook’s behavior was modeling the way for the other crew. It does not specify in the text, however if the leader blamed the dead crew for their death, then the crew that is alive would not lose faith in Cook. This would make the crew be inspired to follow Cook’s lead and advice so the do not end up deceased. Prompt #3.
A compilation and listing of evidence: Considering the evidence you have gathered in Prompts 1 and 2 and the discussions you had this week with your classmates, make a brief, annotated list below of various (5 to 7) examples of positive or effective leadership that the class has discussed regarding Captain Cook. For each example, EXPLAIN YOUR CLASSMATE’S ARGUMENT FIRST— Begin by providing the page number (in Horwitz’s book), a brief quote or synopsis of the evidence (in one sentence), a note about the source of the opinion (Classmate’s name: Who noted this on the Discussion
Board? What was the argument? ), and a final sentence in which you add your own judgment, using the Five Practices of Kouzes and Posner as your guide. 1. “Charts so accurate that some of them stayed in use until the 1990’s” (Horwitz, 2002, p. 137) Classmate’s Name: Tiffany Lager In my judgment, Tiffany made a very valid point about how Cook can be viewed as an effective leader with his mapping and charting skills. The quote above proves that he was very great at his charting and mapping which helped him inspire a shared vision. One of the best ways to prove that something is important is by doing it yourself and setting an example. ” (Kouzes & Posner, 2012, p. 17) I think Captain Cook modeled the way for the mapping and charting experts that followed after him. 2. “Captain Cook was equally dedicated the pursuit of fresh food at every port he reached protected his men” (Horwitz 2003, p. 26) Classmate’s Name: Hannah Ammar In my judgment, Making sure the crew stopped at each port to get fresh food in my opinion was a way to encourage the heart.
The text mentions, leaders “recognize contributions by showing appreciation for individual excellence. ” (Kouzes & Posner, 2012, p. 22) Cook was not only showing his appreciation of the crew by making port stops a priority, he found that it was the access to a variety of fresh food that often prevent the crew from getting scurvy. 3. He “resolved to give them a little time to recover while we run down to and exploar’d the Islands” (Horwitz, 2002, p. 78) Classmate’s Name: Keith Santiago In my judgment, Keith’s example highlights both inspiring a shared vision and encouraging the heart.
It was in the crew’s overall interest to allow the sick crew to recover. Our textbook expresses how important it is for leaders to find a common purpose to inspire people to want to make that vision a reality. (Kouzes & Posner, 2012, p. 104) Furthermore, The purpose of taking more time to rest was to make their vision of sailing on a reality. In addition, Cook’s regard for the crew’s wellbeing encouraged their heart and demonstrated how he valued his crew. On page 274 it mentions, leaders “uplift people’s spirits and arouse the internal drive to strive. (Kouzes & Posner, 2012, p. 274) We can conclude that Cook’s decision to allow the crew to recover lifted the spirits of his crew and motivated them for their next part of the voyage. 4. “Cooks skill at managing the men under him is well documented; much less heralded is his talent at managing those above him” (Horwitz 2002, p. 316). Classmate’s Name: Nina Adkina In my judgment, One could say that Cook was effective at managing his crew through modeling the way and inspiring a share vision. I think Cook was successful at finding his voice.
I do not agree how he demonstrated his values and visions, however during that period of time, it was acceptable and the way of life. Our text expresses,” to become a credible leaders, you first have to comprehend fully the deeply held beliefs-the values, standards, ethics and ideals-that drive you. (Kouzes & Posner, 2012, p. 44) Cook did this by being physical and firm in demonstrating his values, standards and ideals to the crew. He often would cut the crews rations or punish them with flogging. 5. “The moment they see their Superiors set a Value upon it, it becomes the finest stuff in the world” (Horwitz 2002, p. 6). Classmate’s Name: Cory Watson In my judgment, It is clear that when Cook modeled the way for the hygiene and dietary practices, his crew were motivated to follow his lead.
He would not have been effective in trying to get his crew to eat the food or to take daily cold water baths if Cook had not been the model for change. The text talks about how essential it is for leaders to be role models for the vision of the team and to be the initiator of the muscle memory, which makes the team, commit to the shared values. Kouzes & Posner, 2012, p. 74) Prompt #4. Starting with the same data. People can produce fantastically diverse results. Various perspectives on Cook appear in the book. You have one of three choices as you consider other points of view. Write about either: (A) a claim that Cook’s leadership was lousy, toxic, or ineffective; or (B) someone who acknowledges that Cook was an effective leader but still criticizes or disparages his influence in the region; or, finally, (C) a synthesis of those views from a particular writer.
YOU MAY SEEK INFORMATION ELSEWHERE TO HELP YOU WITH THIS PROMPT (via JStor or other Web searches, or library resources). Provide at least one brief quote (from our PDF excerpt, or from another source) to back up your claim, and make direct reference to at least a couple of passages from the Kouzes and Posner book—again, with a brief quote and page number for each. I thought it was strange that I was the only person in our course that thinks Cook’s bad behavior is considered effective leadership.
I do agree that there are plenty of scenarios that can be argued and supported as effective leadership, however I think we failed as a class to talk about how he was also ineffective many times during his voyage. Since the whole point of this course to assess leadership, I think its only wise to discussion the bad and the ugly. I found it troubling that many of us thought that flogging, mass punishment, taking away the crew’s food, take hostages, order men to burn down villager’s homes, destroying property, and cutting off ears as effective leadership. (Horwitz, 2002, p. 20)
Nowhere in our textbooks does it say we should use fear or physical harm to lead. One could argue that Cook was effective in producing results with his bad behavior, however did his crew respect him for doing those actions or were they merely compliant to avoid being a victim of his temper? On page 29 it mentions, “A leader constituent relationship that’s characterized by fear and distrust will never produce anything of last value. ” (Kouzes & Posner, 2012, p. 30) This is why I think things got more challenging and difficult for Cook as he got further into each voyage.
Prompt #5. Now consider the author and narrator a bit: Judging from the evidence we see in these passages—and, admittedly, you may have to search for this—how effective does Horwitz seem as a leader? Examine his engagement in conversation with people, and look at his actions, as evidence for ways in which he may, or may not, demonstrate some of the Five Practices (Five Behaviors) outlined by Kouzes and Posner. Then provide specific page numbers and short quotes in your reply. (One paragraph is an acceptable length for this answer. : In my opinion Horwitz was more of a follower and was unable to inspire a shared vision.
The captain Chris Blake was always ultimately in charge. I would not consider someone that is along for the ride and making request to be an effective leader. At no fault of his own much of the beginning of his journey on the replica Endeavour, he needed to be coached on how to survive and function on the boat/sea. “Mate, I wouldn’t stand on that coiled line, unless you want to be hanging up in the rigging by your foot. ” (Horwitz, 2002, p. 13) He also did not do well on inspection when he was required to sweep the floor.
The first mate, Geoff was not impressed by his efforts and requested him to do a better job next time. Horwitz was also not strong in inspiring a shared vision. Roger seemed like dead weight and was not up for always venturing out and exploring. When Horwitz wanted to g for one more drive on Niue, Roger refused. “I’m starting to recognize every palm tree and vanilla pod,” he said. (Horwitz, 2002, p. 236) If Horwitz was able to inspire his shared vision and taste for adventure, he would have been able to get Roger to join him on more of his ventures.
