Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

(18 July 1918 5 December 2013)

A South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, and philanthropist, who

served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black
head of state and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. His
government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid by tackling
institutionalized racism and fostering racial reconciliation. Ideologically an African
nationalist and socialist, he served as President of the African National Congress (ANC)
party from 1991 to 1997.

Mandela had the following characteristics that enable him to be a effective leader of his
constituents:

Charisma
Mandela had the ability to stir a crowd, individuals listened. During the 1964
Rivonia Trial Mandela delivered a 3 hour address to the court expressing his
determination in removing all traces of the apartheid. Charisma is a great trait for
leaders and creates a motivated and engaged work force.
Integrity
Mandela was known as an honest and respected man who was successfully able
to move South Africa to fair and free elections. Integrity is a very important trait in
leaders in order to increase motivation and organizational commitment.
Visionary
Many leaders are able to envision the future in ways many individuals cannot.
This is a useful trait of a great leader as they can possibly with stand bad times
and foresee a better future. Mandela was able to see the bigger picture
throughout his 27 years of imprisonment.
Tenacity
Being determined and is a extremely useful aspect of being a leader. Possessing
resiliency and flexibility in the face of change can grow leaders which may
increase organisational profitability. Mandela was able to be steadfast in his
beliefs and never gave up on his ideals.
Transformational Leadership
This Mandelas leadership theory suggests that individuals stimulate and inspire to
achieve extraordinary outcomes (Bass and Riggio 2008). It has been stated that
through their vision and personality, leaders are able to transform organizations into
successful businesses. By being motivational, inspiring and stimulating to those they
are leading leaders are able to foster an atmosphere of loyalty and respect.

Inspirational Motivation

This includes behaviours such as expressing appealing visions, focusing efforts and
behaving in ways to energize followers. Nelson Mandela was able to do this by inspiring
first the ANC to follow his lead and campaigning for equal rights. Additionally, whilst in
prison Mandela was still able to have a voice (through others) to communicate his vision
of ending Apartheid. Lastly Mandela was able to be a inspirational motivator after he
was released in 1990 Mandela was able to broker a peace deal, despite an initial
amount of unrest leading, but eventually led to a fairer system.

Individualized consideration

Supportive behaviour towards followers, showing concern for their needs, encouraging
and assisting development.

Idealized influenced

This involves your charisma as a leader, if people perceive you are confident,
competent and committed to higher ideals and ethics they are more likely to follow you
and involves how you action are related to your values beliefs and missions.

Intellectual stimulation
Helping followers by inspiring creativity of thoughts. Changing outlook on life. Mandela
was able to make ANC members and those who followed him realize that their
sacrifices and decisions would lead South Africa to freedom.

Based on this there are more likely to be positive results, higher levels of
performance and achievement within the team or organization. A research study which
investigated 113 research investigations based on transformational leadership found
that it was associated with higher levels of follower performance (Wang, et al, 2011).
This shows that the leadership traits associated with transformational leadership
positively affect how individuals behave in organizations. Based on this one can say
that Nelson Mandela possessed all the characteristics of a transformational leader,
persuading, inspiring and leading South Africa to become a fairer and freer society.