TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN MYTHOLOGY: ODYSSEUS AND OGUZ KAGAN COMPARED

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 23 Sayı: 55, 114 - 142, 25.01.2025

Gökmen Durmuş , Abdulkadir Aksoy

https://doi.org/10.35408/comuybd.1478092

Öz

The aim of this research is to examine the Odyssey and Oguz Kagan epics with a focus on transformational leadership theory (TLT). It compares the responses of the epic heroes, Odysseus and Oguz Kagan, to the events that they encountered. It also evaluates the heroes based on the adjectives used to describe them. Both epics were analyzed with the help of descriptive content analysis and comparative narrative analysis techniques. It was found that the Odyssey contained 39 cases of exemplary leadership whilst Oguz Kagan contained 54. Upon closer examination of the characteristics attributed to each leader, it was observed that Odysseus had 17 apparent characteristics while Oguz Kagan had 16; among these characteristics, strategic thinking, bravery, handsomeness, and nobility were common to both heroes. From the perspective of TLT dimensions, Odysseus stands out in terms of idealized influence, and Oguz Kagan in intellectual stimulation. Among the leadership traits that constitute the dimensions, problem solving, change orientation, ethical values, and mentorship constitute the main four qualities that both heroes have in common. It has been found that the core values that are authentic to heroes include bringing solutions to the challenging situations that they encounter; not deviating from their moral paths while doing so; and being able to set examples to their followers in every way and shedding light on them. As a result of the analysis, by looking at all the cases in the associated epics, both Odysseus and Oğuz Kağan can be explained via transformational leadership theory. In this sense, both heroes are charismatic characters with strong problem-solving abilities, the ability to manage change, an adherence to ethical values, and good mentoring skills. As a result, this comparative study makes a modest contribution to a deeper understanding of leadership theory and practice by benefiting from the rich mythology and folklore texture of different civilizations.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Wisdom Literature, Odysseus, Oguz Kagan, Transformational Leadership Theory, Epic

Dönüşümcü Liderlik Odağında İki Kahraman Mukayesesi: Odysseus ve Oğuz Kağan

Öz

Bu araştırmanın amacı Odysseia ve Oğuz Kağan destanlarını dönüşümcü liderlik teorisi odağında ele almak; destanlardaki kahramanlar Odysseus ve Oğuz Kağan’ı başlarından geçen olaylara verdikleri tepkiler yönünden mukayeseli olarak incelemek ve son olarak kahramanları kendilerine atfedilen sıfatlar bakımından benzerlik ve farklılıklar noktasında değerlendirmektir. Her iki destan da dönüşümcü liderlik teorisi boyutları -karizma, ilham-şevk, akli meleke gücü ve ferdi alaka- bağlamında betimleyici içerik analizi ve karşılaştırmalı anlatı analizi teknikleri kullanılarak incelenmiştir. Bu çerçevede, Odysseia’ta 39, Oğuz Kağan destanında ise 54 adet örnek liderlik olayına rastlanmıştır. Liderler kendilerine atfedilen sıfatlar özelinde incelendiğinde ise Odysseus’ta 17, Oğuz Kağan’da ise 16 sıfatın belirgin olduğu görülmüştür. Bunlar içinde; stratejik düşünme, yiğitlik, yakışıklılık ve asalet her iki kahramanda ortak çıkmıştır. Odyssues’ta öne çıkan dönüşümcü liderlik boyutu karizma iken Oğuz Kağan’da akli meleke gücüdür. Boyutları teşkil eden alt özellikler bağlamında ise her iki kahramanda öne çıkan ilk dört özellik sırasıyla; problem çözme, değişim odaklılık, etik değerler ve yol göstericiliktir. Kahramanları kahraman yapan çekirdek değerlerin karşılaştıkları zorlu durumlar karşısında çözüm getiren, bunu yaparken ahlaki yoldan sapmayan ve takipçilerine her haliyle örnek olup onlara ışık tutabilen kişiler olduğu bulgusuna ulaşılmıştır. Kahramanların sorun çözme becerileri karizmalarını, karizmaları da değişimin yönetilmesini beslemektedir. Yapılan tahlil neticesinde destanlarda geçen tüm vak’alara bakılarak Odysseus’un da Oğuz Kağan’ın da dönüşümcü liderlik teorisi ile açıklanabildiği ve bu anlamda her iki kahramanın da sorun çözme, değişimi yönetebilme, etik değerlere bağlı kalma ve mentorluk edebilme tarafı güçlü karizmatik karakterler olduğu bulgusuna ulaşılmıştır. Sonuç olarak bu karşılaştırmalı çalışma, farklı medeniyetlerin zengin mitoloji ve folklor dokusundan yararlanarak liderlik teori ve uygulamasının daha derin anlaşılmasına mütevazı bir katkı sunmayı hedeflemiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Bilgelik Edebiyatı, Odysseus, Oğuz Kağan, Destan, Dönüşümcü Liderlik Teorisi

Kaynakça

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