Leadership Project
A
LEADERSHIP
CASE STUDY
ON
NELSON MANDELA
Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2 2. Leadership Attributes and styles 3 Leadership attributes 3 Leadership styles 4 3. Leader of my Choice: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela 5 4. Leadership theories applicable in Mandela’s life 6 4. a. “Great Man” theory 6 4. b. Trait theory 7 4. b.i Unselfishness 7 4. b.ii Enthusiasm 7 4. b.iii Integrity 7 4.b.iv Justice 8 4. c Transformational theory 8 4. d Situational theory 8 4.d i Leader-member relation 8 4.d ii Task structure 9 5. Criticism over Mandela’s leadership 9 6. Lessons learned from Mandela’s Leadership Attributes 9 7. Conclusion 12 8. References 12
1. Introduction
Is leadership in-born or acquired? This has been a debate that will never end, or not so soon anyway. Either way, the world has seen many leaders but not all have left a legacy behind them. Being a good leader calls for determination, sacrifice and hard work. A leader must portray the ability to lead and have a strategy to guide this people’s vision to success.
Leadership is basically the process where a person adapts the motive of his followers in line with the same goals as his and strives to achieve it. One can be able to motive his followers in different ways depending on his leadership style. Although some leaders will tend to influence people through their speeches, many followers will be inspired and motivated by the leaders’ actions.
In explaining leadership, Kotter (1990) argued that the style of leadership is the key to a particulars group performance. The style of leadership however will depend on the situation at hand and to the kind of group it is directed to. Leadership styles and its related theories started many years ago. All through the ages, researchers have analyzed different leadership styles and have derived some specific leadership styles. These styles have been used in both business and government leaderships.
2. Leadership Attributes and
LEADERSHIP
CASE STUDY
ON
NELSON MANDELA
Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2 2. Leadership Attributes and styles 3 Leadership attributes 3 Leadership styles 4 3. Leader of my Choice: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela 5 4. Leadership theories applicable in Mandela’s life 6 4. a. “Great Man” theory 6 4. b. Trait theory 7 4. b.i Unselfishness 7 4. b.ii Enthusiasm 7 4. b.iii Integrity 7 4.b.iv Justice 8 4. c Transformational theory 8 4. d Situational theory 8 4.d i Leader-member relation 8 4.d ii Task structure 9 5. Criticism over Mandela’s leadership 9 6. Lessons learned from Mandela’s Leadership Attributes 9 7. Conclusion 12 8. References 12
1. Introduction
Is leadership in-born or acquired? This has been a debate that will never end, or not so soon anyway. Either way, the world has seen many leaders but not all have left a legacy behind them. Being a good leader calls for determination, sacrifice and hard work. A leader must portray the ability to lead and have a strategy to guide this people’s vision to success.
Leadership is basically the process where a person adapts the motive of his followers in line with the same goals as his and strives to achieve it. One can be able to motive his followers in different ways depending on his leadership style. Although some leaders will tend to influence people through their speeches, many followers will be inspired and motivated by the leaders’ actions.
In explaining leadership, Kotter (1990) argued that the style of leadership is the key to a particulars group performance. The style of leadership however will depend on the situation at hand and to the kind of group it is directed to. Leadership styles and its related theories started many years ago. All through the ages, researchers have analyzed different leadership styles and have derived some specific leadership styles. These styles have been used in both business and government leaderships.
2. Leadership Attributes and
References: Johnson, Anne; Mabunda, Doris. "Mandela, Nelson 1918–." Contemporary Black Biography. 1997. Retrieved October 10, 2011 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2871600052.html Nelson Mandela Foundation.(2011) Nelson Mandela Foundation. Retrieved October 10, 2011, from http://www.nelsonmandela.org/index.php Richard Stengal. 2008, Mandela: His 8 leadership lessons (online) Available at http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1821659-3,00.html?artId=1821659?contType=article?chn=world (accessed on 12 October 2011)