2014
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NELSON MANDELA:
A LEADER
Nelson Mandela
“It always seems impossible until it's done.”- Nelson Mandela
Courage is a word that has many different meanings to different people. It means to
stand your ground and look fear in the face and overcome the impossible. Nothing in life comes
free or comes without working hard to make something happen. In order to be courageous, a
person should have bravery, determination and honesty Nelson Mandela, the former president
of South Africa, did not take an easy road to freedom. The purpose of this paper is to take you
through the history, passion, political influence, and finally, the managerial and leadership
styles of Nelson Mandela. Mandela is well known to the world as a hero for his courage to
stand for what he believed in and he endured years in prison to help his country towards
freedom. What more did Nelson Mandela do to become one the most admired men in history?
Background
Born July 12, 1918 in Mvezo, Transkei, Mr. Mandela father was the principal counselor
to the acting king. His father died when Mandela was only 12, making Young Mandela the ward
of Jongintaba. He attended primary school in Qunu where he was given the “Christian” name
Nelson. After boarding school and some secondary course, Nelson Mandela began studying for
a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University College of Fort Hare, but did not complete the
degree because he was unfortunately expelled for joining in a student protest. He did however
finish his BA through the University of South Africa and then went back to Fort Hare for
graduation in 1943.
After fleeing his home country, as the King was furious with his actions at university, he
and his cousin ended up in Johannesburg. After he began studying for an LLB (Bachelor of Law)
at the University of the Witwatersrand, he didn’t have very much money; he was a very poor
student and left the university in 1952 without graduating. He only started studying again
through the University of London after his imprisonment in 1962, but was also not able to finish
that degree. However, during his last months of imprisonment in 1989 he was able to get an
LLB through the University of South Africa. He graduated in absentia at a ceremony in Cape
Town.
Once he was released from prison in February of 1990, Mandela returned as leader of
the ANC (African National Congress) which organized protests and sabotages to bring to light
the inequality that was happening throughout South Africa. Even though Mandela had worked
hard to have people understand and change through peaceful methods, military and
government targets were bombed with no intention of physical harm to get the message
across. Between 1990 and 1994, he led the ANC in the multi-party negotiations that resulted in
the country’s first multi-racial elections. In the same year, he was married. This marriage would
give him two sons and two daughters, one of which died in infancy. In 1955, he and his wife
separated and were divorced in 1958.
In 1994, Mandela was elected as the first black president of South Africa, which was a
huge step for his country in equality and an even greater step in peace. True to his promise
Nelson Mandela stepped down in 1999 after one term as president. Why did he make a
difference? Why did he want change? South Africans were being undermined by the
government and Nelson Mandela was one of many individuals that stood up against the
government. He was involved in many different meetings and organizations that supported the
equality of blacks.
Passion
Nelson Mandela envisioned a better life for his people. He strived for a world where all
people could live a dignified life in a clean environment. Mandela was passionate about clean
air and water, which led him to become the founder of The Elders, a group of leaders from
around the world. The Elders group focuses on finding solutions to worldwide problems,
specifically, issues involving the environment. Climate justice is their main focus. They are not
only finding ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also working to ensure the
protection of people and regions that are most vulnerable to climate change impacts. Mandela
was a very passionate and determined man.
He received over 250 awards, including the Noble Peace Prize, for fighting against the
apartheid, a system for racial segregation in South Africa, as well as for human rights. He ended
discrimination in his country, which lead to full citizenship for coloured South Africans. Mandela
did whatever it took to end the traumatizing effects of the apartheid. A member of the African
National Congress party since the 1940s, he was now a leader of both peaceful protests and
armed resistance against the white minority’s oppressive regime in a racially divided South
Africa. Mandela knew that his people could have a better life, deserved a better life, and he
pushed through any obstacle to achieve his goal.
Mandela’s passion for human rights was inspiring. Even while facing the death penalty
during the Rivonia Trial he held his head high. According to Mandela (1964), “I have fought
against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the
ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with
equal opportunities. It is an ideal, which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an
ideal for which I am prepared to die.”
Nelson Mandela never strayed away from his devotion to democracy, equality and
learning. Despite terrible prosecution, he never answered racism with racism. Nelson Mandela
stepped down from office after one term, just like he promised. He then remained a devoted
advocate for peace and social justice around the world. In 2002, Mandela became a vocal
advocate of AIDS awareness and treatment programs in a culture where the epidemic had been
cloaked in stigma and ignorance. The disease later claimed the life of his son Makgatho (19502005), affecting the lives of every South African.
Influence
Influence can be defined as the action or process of producing effects on the actions,
behavior, and opinions of another person or group. Nelson Mandela achieved exactly that
during his one year term as president of South Africa, as well as throughout his political life, by
using passion, ambiguity, personality, and perseverance to gain the trust of his supporters. The
following sections will examine many of Mandela’s accomplishments and talk about how these
accomplishments impacted his supporters and the rest of the world.
Despite serving a life sentence in prison, Mandela was still able to lead and conduct his
supporters through letters sent every couple months. South Africa’s white-supremacist regime
massacred a total of sixty-seven innocent and peaceful protesters in 1964, and Mandela felt he
had no choice but to react with arms. “I have fought against white domination, and I have
fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in
which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I
hope to live for and to see realized. But, my lord, if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am
prepared to die.” (Read, 2006). Although he was imprisoned, Mandela was still able to
communicate with the outside world which proved to be a great stride in the abolishment of
the apartheid in South Africa. More importantly, his supporters and political leaders could still
feel his passion and intellect. Read (2006) states that “walls do not a prison make,” which I
believed to mean that although the entire country was under control of the apartheid, no one
could imprison Mandela’s spirit. He was a very unique individual whose time in imprisonment
served the useful purpose of solidifying his vision (Read, 2006). He was able to remain focused
on his goals for the people. His sufferings did not make him vengeful but in a way more human
because those years in isolation allowed him to create meaningful arguments for his cause and
stay determined, basically preparing him to cope with the outside world.
Mandela was able to create such an impact on his supporters, as well as the world,
because he was able to show people the importance of three things: first, the power of taking
action. He showed us that by taking risks for the goals and ideas you believe, shows dedication
which people want and love. With a country falling apart, his individualism and rapport was
able to hold the nation together (Marshall, 2013). Not only did he take action on his ideas and
beliefs, he took action on himself. He was the first person to point out his mistakes, his doubts,
and his inaccuracies. He took responsibility for his actions and was always prepared to face the
consequences of whatever decision he made because he understood that standing up to
injustice carries a price (Marshall, 2013). This is a unique quality not many leaders possess,
which is why so many individuals have, and still can, learn from his experiences. Second,
Mandela taught the importance of ideas, reason, and argument and why they must be shaped
into laws and regulations. He always demonstrated that you must not only study those you
agree with, but also those you do not – your competition – which will help you understand the
opposing point of view to allow you to make better decisions for yourself. He was not afraid to
make compromises for the sake of his goal, and he was not afraid to be practical and test his
beliefs for the majority rights, and the basic freedoms, of every South African (Lieberfeld, 2004).
Lastly, Mandela understood and recognized that we as people are bound together in a way that
is invisible to the naked eye. He strongly believed that in order to achieve greatness, one must
share themselves with others, and care for everyone around them (Lieberfeld, 2004). This not
only revealed the wisdom of his understanding, but showed his empathy toward every living
person. This empathy earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.
Some could say that Mandela was a horrible man. He had used violent acts to resolve
conflict that was happening in South Africa. Mandela believed very strongly that without the
violence, there could be no peaceful negotiations, and without peaceful negotiations, there
would be no victory (Read, 2006). In a testimony given by Mandela at his trial he said, “When a
man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an
outlaw,” (Read, 2006). I believe these reasons for turning to violence just showed the passion,
dedication, and perseverance he had, not only for the supporters of his movements, but for the
entire nation’s future. In times of very raw racial discrimination, Mandela showed us that
standing by and idly watching injustices happen, does not do well for anyone. Injustices must
be confronted with generosity, truth, and sacrifice, in order for corrections to be made
(Marshall, 2013). His sacrifices also showed the world that the work to end racial discrimination
and equality is not over by any stretch. To praise a great man’s ability to forgive, to
compromise, to see humanity in the enemy, are resonating when the person uttering them fails
to follow the example (Lieberfeld, 2004). There are still run-down schools, drug abuse,
persecution of beliefs and appearance, and persecution on who individuals can marry
happening all over the world. Too many of us are on the sidelines, happy to watch injustice
happen without voicing our opinions. Mandela reminds us that “it always seems impossible
until it's done,” that the answers we seek to the questions of equality and justice are not easy
(Marshall, 2013).
Management and Leadership
Nelson Mandela was a leader. He used his ambition, personality, and passion to lead
those who wanted to seek change like he did. People loved him because he truly cared about
what he believed in, which is what a good manager or leader does. They gain people’s trust
and they are passionate about what they do; they lead by example. That’s exactly what Nelson
Mandela did. He had his own leadership styles that helped him to get such a supportive group
behind him. He also knew that he couldn’t do it alone. He needed a team, and for that team to
be effective, he had to be an effective leader. Mandela actually had his own list of leadership
styles that he went by, and that is what he felt worked for him. Listed are Mandela’s 8 Lessons
of Leadership (Stengel, 2008):
1) Courage is not the absence of fear--- it’s inspiring others to move beyond it
2) Lead from the front--- but don’t leave your base behind
3) Lead from the back--- and let others believe they are in front
4) Know your enemies--- and learn about his favorite spot
5) Keep your friends close--- and your rivals closer
6) Appearances matter--- and remember to smile
7) Nothing is black or white--- live in the gray area
8) Quitting is leading too
When he talks about leading from the front and the back, he is talking about being a leader
by setting an example. Showing people how to do things and having people follow him. The
people need someone to show them how it is done, have someone to look up to or follow in
their footsteps. By leading from the back you are allowing your followers, team, or employees
do it on their own. By letting them learn on their own, they will be more effective, feel like they
are a part of the team, and in turn, respect you for setting an example yet still knowing that
they are an integral part of the process.
Knowing your enemies means knowing who your competitors are, who may hurt you
along the way, or who might try to bring you down. If you know who they are and keep them
close, you will be able to perfect your strategies and surpass them in the long run. You will
understand their strengths and weaknesses to be able to help formulate your tactics. Mandela
did that by staying true to who he was, keeping his beliefs intact. By keeping his enemies close,
he felt he was able to control them and neutralize them with charm. He talks about dressing
the part, and that’s exactly what he did. You knew who he was when he walked into the room.
He walked tall, dressed to kill, and he felt that is what got him noticed. Dressing a certain way
does not for certain get you the part, but if you have been a successful, effective leader,
dressing the part is what he felt was the icing on the cake. As well as dressing the part, when
Mandela walked into a room and smiled, all eyes were on him. He was glowing with passion
and positivity and his smile was the message. As a manager or leader, if your people feel
comfortable with you, they are more likely to be on your side. A simple smile helps people to
know that you care about them.
Living in the gray area worked for Mandela, and works for managers in general.
Knowing that there will be change, knowing that sometimes you need to think outside the box
is exactly what Mandela does. He is effective because he sees that not everything is perfect or
set in stone. He knows that living in the gray area will help when the time for change comes
because you are prepared and on your toes. His name given to him by his father, ‘Rolihlahla’
means troublemaker. If you are living in the gray area you must be a little bit of a troublemaker
and create good conflict and stress. As a manager that conflict and stress keeps people
motivated and Mandela did just that.
Mandela was a coach leader and engaged in visionary leadership. He was there to help
people and teach them along the way. Visionary leadership is the ability to create and
articulate a realistic, credible, and attractive vision of the future that improves on the present
situation (Robbins, Coulter, Leach, Kilfoil, 2009). That is precisely what Mandela did. He had a
goal that he wanted to implement change in South America for his people. He showed them
what an improvement of the future could look like and what could be better about the
situation of apartheid at hand. He had a democratic leadership style. He involved people in his
decision making, and encouraged participation with his followers. He loved being able to give
his input, yet still see other sides of the story and using that feedback as an opportunity. He
had consensus from his team and followers. He knew how to build commitment and how to
motivate his group members toward objectives. He was able to successfully manage conflict
and deal with the enemies. Mandela was able to listen to all sides of the argument and give his
guidance and offering his analysis. People crave a genuine leadership, he was able to inspire,
elevate, and enlist his people in a shared journey (Friedman, 2009). Mandela had strength,
conviction, and dignity. Mandela felt that communicating through body language and smiling
would inspire the simplest things in people. He felt using simple, yet expressive language, along
with those other techniques would motivate people.
Goals and Change
Mandela was clear on his goals. He knew what he wanted and what changes he wanted
to see and that his how he went forward. He set out his goals and formulated plans on how he
was going to do that. Mandela set a strong, clear message for people who wanted to be on his
side. He was firm and consistent in his message, highlighting his values, beliefs, and goals. He
was honest and authentic and that his how people learned to understand and trust him. A
good manager or leader builds their team, group, or business through trust and respect.
Mandela did an impeccable job of that. There were points in his life where he realized that he
needed to change, and to make changes. That is what a manager does. They embrace change
and they understand that they need to change in order to keep moving, be effective, and
productive. Mandela inspired change on a global level by leading his people on his journey to
bringing an end to apartheid in South America. His biggest asset was knowing how to change
people. He was able to control and change behaviours, attitudes, and perceptions of both his
team, and his enemies. People tend to resist change, but Mandela helped show that the goals
and outcomes were of bigger value.
Team Building
One of his most effective techniques was team building. Mandela said that we need to
form opinions not on our own, but through shared experiences (Leadership Mandela-Style,
2014), which is exactly what a manager should do. They use culture to mold together a team.
They use those shared experience to band people together and talk about what has affected
them and how what works. He said that you need to build a team to work with you on the
causes or projects that you most care about. The team will help get you through that and be an
effective group to succeed and get to the goals you have set in the beginning. Mandela was
able to generate moral authority by getting his team to do something hard together. They had
to fight for what they believed in, and by fighting a long and hard battle; he was able to gain
their trust and commitment. He trusted his people with the truth and was able to be honest
with them. He once said, “Leaders who trust people with the truth, are trusted back”
(Friedman, 2013). He created a group where enough people trusted him back so they could
unite and do the hard work together. He inspired hope in others and elevated people.
Mandela used his team to help him and utilized resources of everyone involved.
He was a revolutionary leader who, through his passion and beliefs, set the stage for
people to follow. He made changes in the world that people didn’t think were possible and
through those techniques he is known as one of the greatest leaders of all time. He is someone
to look up to, a perfect example of what a leader should be. In a business, if you have a
manager and a leader who you can look up to, respect, and do the job as best you can for, well
then they have done their job. It is up to the team to help get the job done, and up to the
leader to show them the way. Mandela was a leader.
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