2. "He was a role model unlike our leaders of today," said Annah
Khokhozela, a nanny, a commoner from Johannesburg, hours
after the death of South Africa's first Black President and antiapartheid icon, Nelson Mandela. If the news of Mr. Mandela's
death brought similar sentiments to you as Annah Khokhozela,
chances are that you are just one among millions feeling the same.
Such reverence was seldom given to even many popular leaders
of the past and the lesser said the better about our current crop of
leaders. Among the many attributes that make Mandela a role
model, the most striking feature has been his compelling
leadership ability.
3. Is it right to gauge corporate leaders with the
same scale as one would gauge a political
leader? If we understand leadership as
explained by John. C. Maxwell "Leadership is Influence, nothing more and
nothing less"*, then it is a fair call to say
'yes'.
4. The essence of leadership in corporate lies in the ability to balance
'the sensitivity to personal needs of the people you lead' and 'the
urgency to accomplish tasks effectively to achieve business
goals'. In Mandela's own words "A good head and a good heart
are always a formidable combination". This fine ability to
balance the two is what creates the leadership of Nelson
Mandela. It is almost never inculcated by management degree
programs. On the contrary the pace that is set by Leaders to
achieve business goals leaves them with no opportunity to
exercise their 'good heart' (if at all they have one). Even so let's
admit many Leaders do manage to achieve their goals but the
people who were with the leader at the start of the journey very
rarely get to see the finish line.
5. That brings us to the next question, "Should we consider a Leader a
success if he achieves business goals but fails to ensure his
people cross the line as well?" I think not. To call yourself a
successful leader one needs to imbibe what Mr. Mandela
epitomised - "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."
6. Finally, whether one grows as a Leader or stagnates with just a
singular accomplishment or two is determined by the Leader's
character. It is the character that sets a Leader apart. It is the
character that will inspire, motivate and change others, long
after you are gone. Former South African White President, FW
de Klerk had this to say about Nelson Mandela - "a remarkable
lack of bitterness". South African President Jacob Zuma says,
"We saw in him what we seek in ourselves" In fact Nelson
Mandela's own idea of a good leader, best describes his
character - "A good leader can engage in a debate frankly and
thoroughly, knowing that at the end he and the other side must
be closer, and thus emerge stronger. You don't have that idea
when you are arrogant, superficial, and uninformed".
