Odysseus was selfless knowing he would be put in harms way throughout the journey of the war and home. .
After the war it was a long journey home with many hardships. One of the many qualities a leader portrays is perseverance. Odysseus perseveres through a 10-year journey home and never lost sight of their homecoming to Ithaca. He had the worst conditions and hardships possible. Poseidon, in particular, gives Odysseus the most challenging trials as retaliation for killing Poseidon's son, the Cyclopes. When Odysseus made his journey home Poseidon created harsh winds and unfavorable storms. Odysseus took all of these challenges head on and succeeded to keep his crew alive, to the best of his ability. Poseidon also brought much pain, suffering, and death into Odysseus's life by sinking his fleet of ships, claiming his treasure , and killing his crew in the process. He helped the men to survive as best as he could however each man has free will and decided no to listen to Odysseus. .
Another example of Odysseus being a leader is when him and his men encounter the Cyclopes. Even though his men didn't make it home Odysseys did what he could to save them and get them home. When Odysseus was locked up and the Cyclopes was eating his men two at a time he devised a plan to save his men form getting eaten by the Cyclopes, "Old shipmates, friends, the rest of you stand by; I'll make the crossing in my own ship and find out what the mainland natives are for they may be wild savages, and lawless " (Book 9 lines 71-74). Odysseus first got the Cyclopes drunk. When the Cyclopes was drunk Odysseus told him his name was nobody. Then stabbed him in the eye, which blinded him and was able to get him and his men to the ship. Then when the Cyclopes cried out for help he was yelling nobody was killing him there for saying that "nobody " killed him gave them time to get to the ship safety. .
A leader will do anything possible to get what he fights for.