Introduction
Nelson Mandela has been recognized by the entire world as one of the most influential, effective, and democratic leaders, who have left after himself a great legacy. Mandela individual actions and political ideology portrayed crucial leadership attributes that are now taught in various leadership theories. As a result, this essay will focus on how transformation and servant leadership theories were reflected in his Nelson Mandela’s life as a leader. What skills does the person possess that makes him a good leader?
Mandela’s Servant Leadership
Servant leadership is based on six aspects that include authenticity, building community, sharing and providing leadership, as well as valuing people. Mandela played
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He articulated fluently the importance of regaining their independence and stopping oppression of innocent people in South Africa. Mandela, played a pivotal role that portrayed his capability to provide inspirational motivation. It was also evident that Nelson Mandela had managed to create idealized influence among citizens, especially during his academic life and the period in which he was fighting for the country’s freedom. In this case, Mandela was a role model for all his fellow citizens, including the young and the old people. When he was schooling in Stellenbosh University, the vice chancellor of the university known as Russell Botman congratulated him on completing his master’s course successfully amidst many difficulties. In this regard, students can consider him as a role model based on the premises that went through and overcame all setbacks. He, thus, can be an example for all academicians who might be discouraged owing to challenges that they face in their academic …show more content…
When he was offered freedom in 1985, he refused, saying: “I cannot and will not give any undertaking, at a time when I and you, the people, are not free. Your freedom and mine cannot be separated!”
Compassion — it is easy to forgive a stranger, and easier to forgive a friend, but how difficult it is to forgive an enemy. Nelson Mandela forgave his greatest adversary, the Apartheid government, which not only caused tremendous suffering to himself and his family but also to his countrymen. He could have demanded the heads of those who murdered thousands of innocent indigenous South Africans, but he chose the higher route instead. Setting up the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, he left a legacy of forgiveness and reconciliation, not only for his people but also for the
Many have developed elements that they believe are the foundation of servant leadership. In summary, included in the fundamentals are healing, creating value for community, empowering, empathy, listening, awareness, behaving ethically, and helping others grow and succeed. Healing refers to leaders trying to help solve problems and relationships. Creating value for community refers to leaders serving as an example and encouraging others to also serve the community. Empowering refers to leaders providing followers with autonomy. Empathy refers to leaders understanding others. Listening is a trait all leaders should possess. In order to understand, one should first listen. Awareness refers to leaders attentive to the things happening around them. Behaving ethically refers to the demonstrating of integrity to gain the trust of followers. Helping others grow and succeed refers to leaders providing support to followers to help them develop and accomplish professional and personal goals.
Having patience, self-discipline, optimistic, intelligence and confident are all good qualities a good leader should have. Leaders are encouraging to the team members and not negative toward them, that gives the players confidence so they can concentrate on what they need to improve. In addition they
Servant Leadership is a leadership style that primarily focuses on the people side of leadership. It was developed by Robert Greenleaf in the early 1970s.
The story depicted by the movie Invictus is just a glimpse at the many hearts that he touched through his transformational leadership approach proved to be a success in the accomplishment of his end goal of equal diversity amongst the citizens of South Africa. Mandela experienced a great amount of satisfaction from his role in changing the government’s environment and finding peace for
Originating in the seminal work of Greenleaf, servant leadership is a paradoxical approach to leadership that challengers our traditional beliefs about leadership and influence. Servant leadership emphasizes that leaders should be attentive to the needs of the followers, empower them, and help them develop their full human capacities. They build strong relationships, with others, are empathic, and ethical, and lead in ways that serve the greater good of followers, organizations, and the community.
From the group Biblical Integration Paper, it was understood that servant-leadership is not only a gift of purpose that God places in the hearts of His people, but it is also a calling in one’s life to truly touch the lives of others in need. Living a successful life, as a servant-leader is not one that focuses on self-fulfillment, rather it is in seeking a fulfillment that comes from Christ when one pours him/herself out for the sake of others. It is through servant-leadership that one is able to bring hope into hopeless situations (Group Integration Paper,
Servant Leadership describes a leadership style that focuses on serving the needs of the team, client or
Servant leadership can be defined as the skill of empowering others towards a common goal through service to them (Hunter, 2014). The theory of servant leadership was initially written about by Greanleaf in the 1970s even though it has existed for hundreds of years (Parris and Peachey, 2012). Greanleaf believed that servant leadership was brought about by individuals reflecting on personal growth rather than providing a step by step manual on how to be a servant leader (Parris and Peachey, 2012). More recent researchers include in the definition of leadership various attributes such as altruistic calling, service, empowerment,
A servant leader must listen to a person fully without interrupting or judging them. While doing my service at the animal shelter there were two other people doing service. They were prisoners wearing the orange jumpsuit. Although most people would assume they are bad and not to talk to them, me and my group had a conversation with them about the dogs. They showed a lot of compassion about what they were doing. Although it was work they were forced to do they gave it their all. I listened and communicated with them the entire time without judging whatever they might have done. This was showing servant leadership in one of the hardest
Simply, servant leaders hold a view as a servant first and leader second (Owens & Hekman, 2012). Moreover, servant leaders emphasize personal responsibility for the organization and all internal and external stakeholders (Peterson, Galvin, & Lange, 2012). As stated, expressing a genuine concern and care for people are a basis of servant leadership. In addition, servant leadership also focuses on the growth of
The foundation of my personal leadership philosophy can be found in the principles of servant leadership as spelled out by Greenleaf (1970, 1977). Leadership is granted to individuals who are by nature servants. An individual emerges as a leader by first becoming a servant. Servant leaders attend to the needs of those they serve and help them become more informed, free, self-sufficient, and like servants themselves. Leaders and those they serve improve, enhance, and develop each other through their connection. A leader must also be conscious of inequalities and social injustices in the organizations they serve and work actively to resolve those issues. Servant leaders rely less on the use of official power and control, but focus on empowering those they
There are many different types of leaders and many different types of leadership. The most prominent leaders tend to arise when there is an issue that is causing conflict. This paper will discuss one of the most influential leaders of the time Nelson Mandela. He was a leader in South Africa from 1963 to 1999. This paper will analyze Mandela’s leadership in the four frames of leadership by Bolman and Deal; Structural, Human Resources, Political and Symbolic frames. It will ultimately show how Nelson Mandela’s leadership led to his successes and failures.
Nelson Mandela was an exceptional leader, as President he took South Africa to somewhere it had never been. He valued his time as President, because he knew his time was limited; often working days without a break. Each step of the way he took risks for the good of the people. When told he was ‘risking his political capital and his future as a leader’, he replied, “The day I am afraid to do that is the day I am no longer fit to lead.”
Servant leadership is basically a set of leadership practices and the philosophies regarding leadership. Surely most of us know what leadership really is. Leadership is seen simply as the accusation and exercise of power for someone who is on top of the pyramid. This is the conventional and simple form of leadership that we all know and love. Where on one hand there is the conventional form of leadership, the servant leader model is the form where the needs and concerns of others are put first. In this model, the needs and concerns of others are placed
My essay will be looking at servant leadership in the continent of Africa and how effective it has been. In the past few decades after countries in Africa seized being under colonial rule, there has been a misconstrued notion that “All leaders in Africa are corrupt” and that it struggles heavily with ethical leadership. It cannot be denied that certain leaders in African countries have made questionable decisions but the same can be said for many other leaders in different continents. My thesis aims to uncover that there are leaders in the continent that do adopt the concept of Servant Leadership. If I was to say servant leader and Africa in the same sentence I am sure the first name that will come to mind is Nelson Mandela. A man globally known for his fight against apartheid in South Africa and his compassionate personality and dedication to the African people’s struggle.