Nelson MandelaNelson Mandela

An Insightful LeaderAn Insightful Leader

By Emily HominsBy Emily Homins

A Leader for the PeopleA Leader for the People ““During my lifetime I have During my lifetime I have

dedicated myself to this dedicated myself to this struggle of the African struggle of the African people. I have fought people. I have fought against white domination, against white domination, and I have fought against and I have fought against black domination. I have black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society democratic and free society in which all persons live in which all persons live together in harmony and together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” which I am prepared to die.” (Mandela 1990)(Mandela 1990)

Political PrisonerPolitical Prisoner Imprisoned for 27 Imprisoned for 27

years for anti-years for anti-apartheid sentimentsapartheid sentiments

Fellow prisoners Fellow prisoners looked to him as a role looked to him as a role model and leadermodel and leader

““To be free is not To be free is not merely to cast off merely to cast off one’s chains but to one’s chains but to live in a way that live in a way that respects and respects and enhances the lives of enhances the lives of others” (Mandela)others” (Mandela)

South African PresidentSouth African President After released from After released from

prison elected prison elected president in 1994president in 1994

Reconciled white and Reconciled white and black factionsblack factions

““One of our strongest One of our strongest weapons is dialogue.” weapons is dialogue.” (Mandela)(Mandela)

““I will pass through I will pass through this world but once, this world but once, and I do not want to and I do not want to divert my attention divert my attention from my task, which is from my task, which is to unite the nation.” to unite the nation.” (Mandela 1996)(Mandela 1996)

Why Nelson Mandela?Why Nelson Mandela?

He was influential He was influential in ending apartheidin ending apartheid

He is charismatic He is charismatic and motivates and motivates people using people using unorthodox unorthodox methods.methods.

He began the He began the reconciliation of a reconciliation of a nation with rugby.nation with rugby.

He was forgiving He was forgiving and remained and remained dedicated to dedicated to unifying South unifying South Africa despite his Africa despite his mistreatment by mistreatment by the whites.the whites.

He remains an He remains an important role important role model today.model today.

LeadershipLeadership

““Practical Practical leadership must be leadership must be given to capable given to capable men, whatever their men, whatever their status in society” status in society” (Mandela 1986)(Mandela 1986)

““Don’t address their Don’t address their brains. Address brains. Address their hearts.” their hearts.” (Mandela)(Mandela)

His leadership was His leadership was particularly particularly effective because effective because he did address the he did address the hearts of his people, hearts of his people, black and white.black and white.

He did not seek He did not seek revenge on the revenge on the white minority after white minority after he became he became president.president.

LeadershipLeadership ““The mark of great The mark of great

leaders is the ability to leaders is the ability to understand the context understand the context in which they are in which they are operating and act operating and act accordingly.” (Mandela)accordingly.” (Mandela)

“ “ It is wise to persuade It is wise to persuade people to do things and people to do things and make them think it is make them think it is their own idea” their own idea” (Mandela)(Mandela)

““A leader who relies on A leader who relies on authority to solve authority to solve problems is bound to problems is bound to come to grief.” come to grief.” (Mandela)(Mandela)

Mandela relied on his Mandela relied on his ability to inspire the ability to inspire the best from people.best from people.

He was wise in He was wise in knowing his limitations knowing his limitations and worked within and worked within those limitations.those limitations.

He inspired people to He inspired people to follow him willingly.follow him willingly.

His words speak His words speak profoundly as to who profoundly as to who he is as a man and he is as a man and leader.leader.

Invictus (2009)Invictus (2009)

1995 Rugby World Cup1995 Rugby World Cup Used Rugby to unite Used Rugby to unite

South AfricaSouth Africa Mandela thanked Mandela thanked

Pienaar for all he had Pienaar for all he had done for their country, done for their country, Pienaar responded, “No Pienaar responded, “No Mr. President, thank Mr. President, thank you for all you have you for all you have done for our country.”done for our country.”

““Our whole nation Our whole nation stood behind a sport stood behind a sport which was once a which was once a symbol of apartheid.” symbol of apartheid.” (Mandela)(Mandela)

Leading by QuittingLeading by Quitting One term as president One term as president

“to set the course” for “to set the course” for the nationthe nation

In 1999, he would be In 1999, he would be 80 years old, “an 80 years old, “an octogenarian octogenarian shouldn’t be meddling shouldn’t be meddling in politics.” (Mandela)in politics.” (Mandela)

He knew when to He knew when to move on, stepping move on, stepping down after getting the down after getting the country on track. country on track.

Role ModelRole Model

Nobel Peace Prize Nobel Peace Prize Winner 1993Winner 1993

AIDS/HIV activistAIDS/HIV activist ““You are You are

responsible for your responsible for your own future, and own future, and with hard work you with hard work you can accomplish can accomplish anything and make anything and make your dreams come your dreams come true.” (Mandela true.” (Mandela 2005)2005)

““On my last day I On my last day I want to know that want to know that those who remain those who remain behind will say: behind will say: “The man who lies “The man who lies here has done his here has done his duty for his country duty for his country and his people” and his people” (Mandela 1999)(Mandela 1999)

SourcesSources Boehmer, Elleke. Boehmer, Elleke. Nelson Mandela: A Brief Insight.Nelson Mandela: A Brief Insight. New York: Sterling New York: Sterling

Publishing, Publishing, 2008. Print. 2008. Print. Carlin, John. Carlin, John. Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game that Made Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game that Made

a Nation.a Nation. New York: Penguin Press, 2008. Print. New York: Penguin Press, 2008. Print. Cohen, David Elliot & John D. Battersby. Cohen, David Elliot & John D. Battersby. Nelson Mandela: A Life in Nelson Mandela: A Life in

Photographs.Photographs. New York: Sterling Publishing, 2009. Print. New York: Sterling Publishing, 2009. Print. Crwys-Williams, Jennifer, ed. Crwys-Williams, Jennifer, ed. In the Words of Nelson Mandela. In the Words of Nelson Mandela. New York: New York:

Walker & Walker & Company, 2010. Print.Company, 2010. Print. Freeman, Morgan, actor. Freeman, Morgan, actor. Invictus.Invictus. Burbank: Warner Brothers, 2009. DVD. Burbank: Warner Brothers, 2009. DVD. Mandela, Nelson. Mandela, Nelson. In His Own Words.In His Own Words. New York: Little, Brown & Company, New York: Little, Brown & Company,

2003. 2003. Print. Print. Mandela, Nelson. Mandela, Nelson. The Struggle is My Life. The Struggle is My Life. New York: Pathfinder Press, New York: Pathfinder Press,

1986. Print.1986. Print. Stengel, Richard. Stengel, Richard. Mandela’s Way: Fifteen Lessons on Life, Love, and Mandela’s Way: Fifteen Lessons on Life, Love, and

Courage.Courage. New New York, Crown Publishers, 2009. Print. York, Crown Publishers, 2009. Print.