Christopher Columbus Leadership Qualities

From 1484 to 1491 Christopher Columbus was denied aid for his trip across the Atlantic to find a western route to Asia. January 1492, the Italian native gained royal support from the Spanish Monarch, King Ferdinand, and his wife, Queen Isabella. The support they gave to Columbus sparked the voyage that would change the unknown lands they were going to encounter in their near future.

Being a leader academically, and athletically, I have responsibilities that are not written down in a sacred book or in an instruction manual. They are non-existent rules a satisfactory leader should follow, and if not followed shall be not be given the authority or respect one has for being in the high-held position. The authorities of a team or group are spread among its most respected people. King Ferdinand, and Queen Isabella, both extremely high superiors during the late fifteenth century, are given their respect because they have proven themselves they are worthy of their throne. Conceding, the two superiors have an experienced seaman by the name

of Christopher Columbus come to them asking for their financial aid in a western sail trying to find a western route to Asia.
Why would the highest socially ranked people in Spain want to help an Italian seaman complete a task that has little chance of completion?

As a leader and authority, you have to take chances to become successful. They may not work the first time, or the second, but you will never be respected for not making a decision or trying to make an impact for the better in something that is larger than yourself. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella may not have fully believed he was actually going to find what he was chasing; however, they saw an opportunity that could make a splash in the population, and pounced on it. Ultimately, if Columbus was successful in his journey, and they brought back the news, King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth’s names would have been right up there with Christopher Columbus simply for supplying the financial needs of the exploration and their already respected names would ring out again to maintain their

superiority.
When the King and Queen were in the decision making process on whether or not they wanted to aid Christopher’s exploration, they needed to know the cost, and the outcome. They calculated the distance around the earth, gave logistics and navigation details for their ships and crews, and concluded that the mission, with modern ships for their time period, could not be completed. The deal was for three ships, including crews along with them, he would attempt to sail west to find China or India. While in the process, they were thinking the benefits and faults which could come along with this journey. The benefits; being a financial supporter for a modern discovery to change the world forever; to find something mankind has been searching and curiously investigating over many centuries. Continuing, their efforts will be spread radiantly through lands of Spain, and to aid their political career for the better. The faults; they could potentially be blamed for sending three crews on a suicide mission, and their political career would suffer due to the King and Queen’s poor decision making.
On the political spectrum, it could have given the King and Queen a major boost on their citizens approval rate; however, given King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth being the hierarchy’s of Spain, they are making decisions that are best for the country. Before coming to King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth, Christopher Columbus reached out to King John II of Portugal. Possibly, Spain’s King Ferdinand saw an opportunity to get a leg up on a competing country in the scientific spectrum. By giving Spain’s tag on the voyage across the western oceans, and succeeding, would give Spain a boosting reputation for capturing a great opportunity when one comes.
When Christopher Columbus initially came to King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth, he was rejected. Twice. After his persistence they finally gave him the financial need to sail west and attempt to find a western route to India or China. After King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth rejected him the first time, and he came back it may have sparked something in King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth. Maybe it was their potential political growth, boom they could possibly make in the competitive scientific spectrum between countries, or making a great decision as two leaders trying to create dominant country.