Nelson Mandela 30 Leadership Lessons

1 Background
Nelson Mandela was one of the most famous figures of the 20th and 21st century.
He was known as the revolutionary, peacemaker, leader and humanitarian amongst others.
Many dignitaries and public figures would have and did give anything to have a meeting with
him or be seen with him.
History will show that he was a complex character and that he was able to adapt to a variety of
situations with ease.
He was not intimidated by anyone as his relaxed encounter with Queen Elizabeth proved.
Nelson exhibited many leadership qualities and styles, depending on who he was with and the
situation he found himself in.
It was behind bars that Madiba learnt his most valuable lessons in leadership. As he himself has
In a world dominated by leaders with autocratic tendencies, Mandela stood apart. He had in
him the rare combination of leadership, courage, wisdom and foresight. He remains among
the 20th centurys greatest freedom fighters and statesmen. (Business Day)

acknowleged, prison shaped him. He went in angry, convinced that the only way of achieving his
peoples freedom was by force of arms. Given the enormity of the injustice to which the eightyfive percent of the population who were not white had been subjected since the arrival of the first
European settlers in 1652, this was not surprising.
The prison experience elevated Mandela to higher political aims and this set him apart from the
other freedom fighters within his South Africa and those operating beyond its borders. What he
learnt was that pursuing vengeance and violence may have brought the enemy to the negotiating
table but it would not bring about lasting change; He interacted with his jailers and observed
them closely, eventually coming to the realization that that black and white people had far more

in common than they had differences; he learnt that forgiveness and generosity and, more
importantly, respect were weapons of political persuasion as powerful as any weapon or violent
act.
While researchers have been unable to identify exactly what makes a great leader, they have
been able to identify the characteristics without which one cannot lead effectively. Here are some
examples:
According to Leadership 501; The five

According to John Murphy;

leadership traits/leadership qualities are:

leaders:

1. Honest
2. Forward-Looking
3. Competent
4. Inspiring
5. Intelligent
6. Situational Leadership

1. Get results
2. Care
3. Share their Why
4. Deliver on commitments
5. Develop talent
6. Clearly value people over
process

Whilst this article does not use exactly the same terms as those used above, it is evident that
Nelson Mandela exhibited most, if not all of the leadership characteristics of a great leader.
According to Hersey and Blanchard, there are four main leadership styles:

Telling (S1) Leaders tell their people what to do and how to do it.

Selling (S2) Leaders provide information and direction, but there's more
communication with followers. Leaders "sell" their message to get people on board.

Participating (S3) Leaders focus more on the relationship and less on direction. The
leader works with the team, and shares decision-making responsibilities.

Delegating (S4) Leaders pass most of the responsibility onto the follower or group. The
leaders still monitor progress, but they're less involved in decisions.

source: Mindtools.com

Nelson Mandela was able to apply each of these styles during his lifetime.
He often "told" his ANC colleagues what to do and did so in a manner that indicated that he
would not tolerate a NO. Nelson was quite capable of being an autocrat when the situation
demanded it. He showed this during negotiations with the National party and many times after
that when his party members stepped out of line.
He "sold" South Africa and his favourite interests on numerous occasions and showed that he
was fully aware of his personal charisma and the value of his personal brand.
He participated in numerous high level and sometimes low profile activities in a way which
indicated that he fully understood the value of relationship building, as he did when he supported
the rugby world cup and put his full support behind the soccer world cup.
He delegated many things to many people but indicated that he would hold them accountable in
each case. The approach also depended very much on the impact and importance of the situation.
It was clear that Thabo Mbeki remained very unsettled when he was president and Nelson
Mandela had more influence and presence than him when he was present. He was able to lead
people to greatness without over controlling.

2 Forgiveness
Perhaps Mandelas greatest achievement was that he prevailed upon his people to
shun revenge. (Business day live).

The time for the healing of the wounds has

come. The moment to bridge the chasms that
divide us has come. The time to build is upon
us. (10 May 1994)

3 Knowing when to compromise

IN 1995, SOUTH AFRICAN

RUGBY CAPTAIN FRANCIOS
PIENAAR RECEIVES THE RUGBY
WORLD CUP FROM PRESIDENT
NELSON MANDELA, WHO
WEARS THE GREEN SPRINGBOK
JERSEY.

4 Autocracy
The following are extracts from a Mail & Guardian article written in 2013:

Not always the secular saint, Nelson Mandela's decisions showed a streak of autocratic
decision-making that belies the image of the true democrat. Nelson Mandela was not always a
softie.
He believed in action and led by example, both by getting military training and becoming the
chief volunteer during the defiance campaign. But at the core of all this militancy was always a
desire to get the white colonial regime to come to the table and talk.
Once he was released, the concept of him as the first among equals persisted, and thus the
announcement that the ANC would not follow through on nationalisation as promised in the
Freedom Charter was made in Europe, with the rest of the ANC leadership left to scramble
either to understand and follow, or to contradict the icon. The decision stood.

Danny Jordaan, the president of the South African Football Association, tells the story of how
the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee decided that the Springbok
emblem should be abolished in favour of the Protea for all sporting codes. Mandela forced it to
rescind a democratically taken decision that was designed to show that sport was transforming.
All this shows a streak of autocratic decision-making that belies the image of the true democrat.
It was because he had determined where the country should go and how it would get there, and
would not brook what to him were worthless gestures. Primary to this was not to appease, but
rather to cajole people particularly Afrikaans-speaking whites into believing that they had a
place in this country.

Source: http://mg.co.za/article/2013-12-12-saluting-mandela-an-autocratic-democrat

5 Humility
I stand here before you not as a prophet but as
a humble servant of you, the people. Your
tireless and heroic sacrifices have made it
possible for me to be here today. I therefore
place the remaining years of my life in your
hands.
Speech on the day of his release, Cape Town

(11 February 1990)

6 Courage
Nelson Mandela showed his courage by being prepared to be incarcerated and even be put to
death for the cause he believed in. He often took the unpopular route when making decisions for
the right reasons.

Courage
Ive learned that
courage was not the
absence of fear, but the

7 Ability to build relationships

Nelson Mandela had an uncanny ability to build relationships by
finding common ground. He spent time reaching out to people
that others would find unacceptable or at best strange. A very
good example of this was when he went to meet with Betsy
Verwoerd.

triumph over it.

The brave man is not
he who does not feel

afraid but he who

conquers that fear.

Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk

worked hard at building a relationship
in the interests of a united country, as
the extract of a report shows below:
One of the stories that Mr. De
Klerk shared was in response to a
question concerning how his
relationship with Nelson Mandela
developed. Mr. de Klerk was, of

President Nelson Mandela dropped in for coffee

with the widow of the man who virtually
invented white rule. It was one of the stranger
sights in post-apartheid South Africa. Orania is
no leafy suburb where Afrikaner ladies like
diminutive Betsie Verwoerd, 94, typically live.
This spartan desert settlement amounts to an
Afrikaner kibbutz inhabited by 460 whites.
Mandela's visit to the heartland of white
Afrikaner territory was part of his efforts to unite
all of South Africa's citizens into one country.

course, the President who

released Mr. Mandela from jail

Adapted from an article on Zapiro.com

and who set in motion the

dismantling of the apartheid
system of government that had
left his country on the brink of
civil war and isolated from the rest of the World.
The story of how their relationship developed provided key lesson for all of us
when meeting new people with whom we
want to work going forward. It was
particularly striking when you consider
the huge differences in the two men's
backgrounds and political beliefs.
When they first met, Mr. de Klerk said
that they steered clear of talking about
politics. They both knew by then each
other's position and instead Mandela

impressed de Klerk with his knowledge of South African military history and
admiration for Boer Generals. Speaking with de Klerk about something of interest
to both of them, where they were not likely to argue but instead find common
views, would have strengthened the relationship going forward when discussions
would be less amicable. Andy Lopata (Friday, May 15, 2009)

8 Emotional Intelligence
Some people believe that emotional intelligence is now outdated and have added other factors or
have changed the wording but the 25 associated competencies remain significant in forming and
managing lasting relationships. Nelson Mandela exhibited a good few of these competencies
throughout his life and especially in the latter part thereof.

9 The ability to inspire and motivate

Leadership is often about having a compelling vision and leading others towards it. It is also
about creating the environment in which others can
perform as is required of them.
Nelson created an environment of hope, trust and
passion in a period during which all South
Africans had a great desire to do their part in
reaching the dream of a Rainbow Nation.
I personally do not believe that one can motivate
others but can create the environment in which
people are motivated to excel and contribute to the attainment of a shared vision.

10 Principled
A great leader has integrity, is principled and will not compromise on his ideals. Madiba did not
compromise and stuck to what he believed in for a lifetime.

11 Leading from the front

Nelson Mandela was not afraid to lead from the front and often took great risks in doing so. He
retained his drive during long periods of imprisonment and ensured that he remained fit and
strong throughout, never forgetting to challenge himself further, as shown when he obtained his
law degree by correspondence.
He often made the first move in difficult situations, causing others to follow his lead.
He took others with him, as is shown when he showed that he was prepared to work with the
"enemy" and even appointed members of the past government to portfolios in the government of
national unity.

12 Know your enemy

If you want to make peace with

If politics is about winning people over,

your enemy, you have to work

Mandela, as numerous other politicians have

with your enemy.

attested, was the master of the game. He had

Then he becomes your partner.

at his command an irresistibly seductive

- Nelson Mandela

cocktail that combined boundless charm born of

a vast self-confidence with inflexible principle, strategic vision and the canniest
pragmatism. The Guardian 7 December 2013.
General Constand Viljoen succumbed to Mandelas lethally effective political
cocktail of charm, respect, integrity, pragmatism and hard-nosed sense.
The Cairo Review

Nelson Mandela ensured that he knew his opponents and spent a lot of time getting to know
them. He ensured that he kept the Afrikaaners close to him so that he could understand how they
thought and what drove them to specific actions. What he eventually found was that the enemy
was also humena. In fact the enemy came to the same conclusion about him.

13 Letting others lead from the back

Nelson raised an army of leaders who were willing to
do their part, simply because he inspired them. He was
willing to let them do what they believed to be right,
without belittling them or over controlling when this
was required.

It is better to lead from behind

and to put others in front,
especially when you celebrate
victory when nice things occur.
You take the front line when there
is danger. Then people will
appreciate your leadership.

Nelson Mandela

14 Charm and Charisma

Mandela, the great

It is undeniable that Nelson had charm and charisma, as

well as more than a little element of fun. The Mandela

statesman, was brilliant in his

smile that was always at the ready and the Madiba Jive

analysis of a situation and in

are evidence of these.

cajoling others to follow his

When Nelson got involved in a cause, his charisma

path and dream. He was a

became evident as was the case when he wore the

leader who worked for them,

springbok rugby jersey at the rugby world cup held in

not for himself. And so when

his family was torn apart, the

South Africa. His presence inspired others to do more,

as was the case with the Springboks winning despite
stiff competition.

nation wept with him, for they

knew that part of the reason
for his pain was his sacrifices

15 Knowing when to quit

Unlike many African leaders, Mandela knew when to
quit and graciously stepped back to allow others to do

for them. (Source Mail &

their bit.

Guardian)

He ensured that the territory was in a good state and was

willing to let go, despite all that he had personally

endured to achieve what can only be described as a remarkable outcome.

16 Be yourself
Madiba did not try to emulate anyone else and was true to himself for as long as he lived.

It is difficult to think of anyone who was even reasonably like Nelson Mandela in modern times.
He was often compared to Ghandi, but was as unlike Ghandi as anyone else.

17 Balance, Discipline and Tenacity

Mandela knew how to balance work and family life.
He worked extremely hard and put in long hours but
still found time for his children and grand children.
He had a very special place for children in his life
and ensured that he did what he could to improve
the lot of underprivileged children.

18 Service and social work

Madiba committed himself to selfless community service and spent a huge amount of time
ensuring that his dreams and passions were implemented. South Africa grew dramatically during
his leadership and he ensured that the whole world gave to these causes.
He established numerous foundations, charities and social institutions during his presidency and
inspired many others to do the same.

19 Planning and goal setting

Nelson had big, wide, audacious goals (BWAGs) and did not stray from them during a long
period of incarceration and during the 20 plus years from his release form prison. He continued
to plan and execute many of the things that were dear to him, even when his health was clearly
suffering.

20 Communication
Nelson Mandela was famous for his oratory skills. He
spoke clearly and deliberately, never without passion
and he got his message across every time.

"our march to freedom is

irreversible"

Many of his punch lines are still remembered to this day.

21 Courtesy and Respect

22 Fairness
Madiba was committed to fair play, as was shown in his many interactions with others and
specifically when confronted with territorial wars, where he did everything he could to broker
peace.
The history of our country is such that we still have to create the conditions for fair play
and justice to be secure. Our government has initiated measures to address the inequalities
and imbalances of the past. But this will take time. The wounds of past injustice need to be
healed and the deep divisions removed for ever. Reconstruction and reconciliation, nationbuilding and development must go hand-in-hand.

(Fair Play Awards Pretoria).

23 Compassion
Mandela showed compassion in many ways, but his
overwhelming commitment was to address poverty
and suffering, as was shown by the number of causes
that he supported.
Nelson Mandela fought poverty and AIDS and

Compassion

supported some 50 charities. He also established a

Overcoming poverty is not a

number and motivated many to establish even more.

task of charity, it is an act of

24 Grace

justice. Like Slavery and

Nelson's graceful exit from the political spotlight is

Apartheid, poverty is not

sometimes overlooked. After one five-year term,

natural. It is man-made and it

Mandela voluntarily stepped down from the presidency

in 1999, though he could have served a second term. It

can be overcome and eradicated

was an extraordinary act on a continent where many

by the actions of human beings.

leaders expect to rule for life, and often do.

Sometimes it falls on a
generation to be great. YOU can

Mandela and Boris Yeltzin.

When Mandela and Boris were signing a friendship

agreement between the two countries, the Russians

be that great generation. Let

your greatness blossom.

Trafalgar Square 2005.

were there typical stoic selves.

When Boris was signing after Nelson and taking a lot of time, Mandela clapped him on the back,
smiled, and said, "You have much neater handwriting than me!"
Many in the room chuckled gratefully, including Yeltsin. The tension was released. This was the
Mandela magic at work, grace rescuing an awkward moment

25 Simplicity
Not many men call Britain's Queen Elizabeth II "Elizabeth", much less dare to comment on her
dress style or weight.
Nelson Mandela was one of them. (Reuters).

26 Pick the right team

When Nelson formed the government of national unity, he ensured that he picked the right
people to lead, irrespective of colour. He reached out to select people who could positively help
with the countrys transformation.

27 Hard work
Mandela was known for his ability to work long
hours and work to a punishing schedule. He set the
tone in the cabinet and politics in general, showing
the way for many who may have felt entitled to an
easier life. His personal assistant, Zelda Le Grange
attested to this work ethic many times and was in
fact very protective of him, ensuring that he did
not overdo it.

28 Integrity
Mandela lived by his principles. He did not deviate from his intentions and did not vary his
commitment to the cause of the ANC and beyond that to the cause of a united South Africa.
Nelson Mandela on integrity, At the
British Red Cross Humanity Lecture,
Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre,
London, England (10 July 2003). Source:
From Nelson Mandela By Himself: The
Authorised Book of Quotations 2010 by
Nelson R. Mandela and The Nelson
Mandela Foundation

THOSE WHO CONDUCT

THEMSELVES WITH MORALITY,
INTEGRITY AND CONSISTENCY
NEED NOT FEAR THE FORCES OF
INHUMANITY AND CRUELTY.

29 Working to leave a legacy

Mandela fought hard to unite all
South Africans and to instil a sense of
justice and fairness in the legal and
political systems. He even managed to

The Mandela Legacy

unite two opposing political parties in

And so it proved. Mandelas wisdom in reaching

a government of national unity.

out to the old enemy, repressing any vengeful

What he left South Africa with was a

impulses he might have accumulated during his

will and a pride plus a sense that

twenty-seven years in prison, is the principal

anything is possible despite seemingly

reason why South Africa has consolidated its

insurmountable obstacles.

transition from tyranny to democracy, and done so

Whilst it is apparent that his political

not, in the time-honored style of revolutions,

successors did not live up to

through repression, but by persuasion. The

expectations, South Africa is still

triumphant expression of Mandelas lifes work is

better off as a result of his leadership

seen in a political system that, seventeen years

and legacy. The world still sees South

after he took power, remains as stable as it is

Africa as a jewel in Africa and an

authentically democratic. The rule of law, freedom

example of what could be when a

of speech, free and fair elections: these are the

nation unites under a great leader.

gifts Mandela has bequeathed his nation.

The big truth is that Mandela, like Lincoln,

30 Close
Nelson Mandela showed himself to be
a remarkable leader who showed
many of the characteristics of great
leaders who had come before him.
He left a great legacy of reconciliation
and pragmatism, after having
experienced great hardship in getting
to his dream.

achieved the historically rare feat of uniting a

fiercely divided country. The feat is rare because
what ordinary politicians have always done is seek
power by highlighting difference and fueling
antagonism. Mandela sought it by appealing to
peoples common humanity.
The Cairo Review of Global Affairs November
4, 2014

He was able to forgive and move on, establishing a great vision for South Africa, which many
other countries sought to emulate and indeed duplicate.
His leadership led South Africa into one of its most prosperous periods, where many were
clamouring to bring major events or simply visit the Rainbow Nation to experience it for
themselves.

Written by Angelo Kehayas

November 2014