Nelson Mandela a Transformation Leader

Nelson Mandela A Transformation Leader This week we are asked to discuss a prominent leader that we admire, Nelson Mandela was an easy choice for me. An effective leader according to the text is “someone who works with, motivates, and helps followers to attain their common organizational goals” (Weiss, 2011, p. 234). This definition is true of Mandela and his transformational leadership style has impacted his followers and the people around him. I think he is a transformational leader that many leaders should inspire to become more like.

Mandela used his ethical, charismatic, authority to inspire his nation to change and exemplifies transformational leadership. The four characteristics of a transformational leader, along with other characteristics like charisma, ethics, and being a servant are all embodied in the leadership of Mandela and make him a true inspiration. A transformational leader according to the text “influence, inspire move and latterly transform followers to achieve organizational goals beyond their self interest’(Weiss, 2011, p. 1). Nelson Mandela freed South Africa from the system of racism and violent prejudice to help the whole nation. He often said that “Courage is not the absence of fear--it's inspiring others to move beyond it”(Stengel, 2008, par. 5). This is one of the major components of a transformational leader, the ability to inspire others. He used his inspirational motivation to focus efforts and unite the entire nation. Nelson spent his life being the role model he wanted others to follow.

When he got out of jail he included the people he despised such as his jailers and the people that imprisoned him in his cabinet because he knows the importance of elevating others. One article stated that Mandela did this because “ leadership is not about helping those who already love you to love you more – it’s about convincing those who doubt you that you can be trusted” (Barling, 2010, p. 3). This is the example of idealized influence that Mandela used to be a transformational leader. He also gave individualized consideration to the people that he leads.

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Mandela was a very hands on leader, he took the time to learn the Afrikaans language so he could communicate with them. According to Stengel “ By speaking his opponents' language, he might understand their strengths and weaknesses and formulate tactics accordingly. But he would also be ingratiating himself with his enemy” (2008, par. 18). Nelson would attend funerals and call people on there birthdays. In using the personal approach with his followers he demonstrated the characteristics of individualized consideration in transformational leadership.

He also has the last characteristic of a transformational leader, intellectual simulation. Mandela helped people even while he was imprison. He encouraged the other prisoners to educate themselves. He also helped to push the freedom charter. Mandela shared his knowledge and while he was in prison he would also use his education as a lawyer to help the warders with their legal problems. Mandela used his leadership style to bring changes to his country even at the expense of his freedom. Mandela also demonstrates the qualities of a servant leader.

From the very beginning he had one goal of uniting both white and black Africans for the good of the nation, Nelson’s primary goal was helping others. He also was a good listener and would often be the last one to speak in conferences he had with his cabinet, he knew that letting other people think they were leading was often the best way to go. He inspired others through trust when he allowed the same people that imprisoned him to be a part of his presidency. He worked towards feasible goals and when he realized it was not feasible he let it go.

For example Nelson wanted to change the voting age to fourteen but when he realized that he did not have support he let the issue go knowing it would just be a waste of time. Mandela always helped people, even in jail he helped wardens and other inmates. Nelson used his knowledge to help people and never expected anything in return. Another great characteristic was he is authentic, what you see is what you get. Nelson Mandel is a transformational leader with ethical, charismatic, and servant characteristics that helped change a nation with a leadership style that was selfless and committed.

He is the example of a leader that I would strive to be like. Having a charismatic, ethical image has helped him reach goals that others thought would not be possible. I would strive to be as inspiring as he has been in some of the tough situations he has faced. I think that he shows how positive a transformational leader can be for a country. References Barling, J. (2010) Transformational Leadership. Retrieved from http://www. iedp. com/Pages/DocumentManager/Transformational%20Leadership%20by%

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