Mandela's Leadership Lessons

The Time magazine July 21 issue had as its’ cover story “Mandela at 90: The Secrets of Leadership”. This was the very day I was leaving Jamaica for South Africa. The article made riveting reading on the long flight and was excellent orientation for my first visit to this fascinating country in conscious transition.

Here are Nelson Mandela’s lessons, gleaned over decades of leadership – most of which he spent incarcerated, yet still managed to effectively lead a movement for massive change:

Lesson #1:
Courage is not the absence of fear – it’s inspiring others to move beyond it

Lesson #2:
Lead from the front – but don’t leave your base behind

Lesson #3:
Lead from the back – and let others believe they are in front

Lesson #4:
Know your enemy – and learn about his favourite sport

Lesson #5:
Keep your friends close – and your rivals even closer

Lesson #6:
Appearances matter – and remember to smile

Lesson #7:
Nothing is black or white

Lesson #8:
Quitting is leading too

What I love about these lessons are their simplicity and practicality. These lessons are no treatises developed out of years of research, analysis, discourse, debate or scholarship. They are lessons that were gleaned in the mud, dirt, grime, violence, hardship and challenges of the trenches of the fight against apartheid. They are lessons that all of us can put into practice. Most importantly, they are lessons that work – we see the result in the victory over apartheid, and in the example that Nelson Mandela has set and continues to set. For all of us who love and admire Nelson Mandela, the greatest tribute to him would be for us to put these into practice in our families, organizations and nations.

Here is the link to the article - read and put into practice!

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1821467,00.html