Leadership lessons from Nelson Mandela
- By Eugene Clark
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E-mail China.org.cn, December 14, 2013
Former South African President Nelson Mandela, regarded by many to be the father of modern post-apartheid South Africa, will be celebrated and honored in a state funeral to be held tomorrow. It is truly amazing that a person could emerge from 27 years in prison and find a way to lead a deeply troubled and divided nation and with many of his own party crying for revenge for past injustices.
What are the hallmarks of this man, who was truly one of the greatest leaders of the past century?
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People attend the memorial service for Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Dec. 10, 2013. Memorial service for former South African president Nelson Mandela started in Johannesburg on Tuesday as tens of thousands of mourners and more than 90 world leaders gather in rain to remember Mandela at memorial. [Photo/Xinhua] |
First was his compelling vision and focus on the big issues confronting the future of South Africa. Mandela was a person with a vision of a free and united South Africa, the "Rainbow Nation," where all the people of South Africa could live, work and build a nation together.
Mandela was also a man of great integrity and courage. As he himself wrote:
"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."
One of many examples of this courage was his decision to go against many of his own party who, for example, did not want him to support the Springboks and Rugby World Cup because it had historically been a symbol of white supremacy and apartheid.
Another hallmark of great leaders is humility. There is no doubt that he could have remained in power indefinitely had he sought to do so, but he stepped down as president after only one term. Mandela knew that his speech would be watched by a billion people on television around the world, as he spoke these words to the people of South Africa and beyond:
We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation. We pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discriminations. Never, never and never again shall this beautiful land experience the oppression of one by another…. The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement. Let freedom reign. God bless Africa.
Mandela's humility was accompanied by a great capacity for forgiveness. Many argue that Mandela's greatest strength was his ability to forgive his enemies and his willingness to work closely with those who had once persecuted him. He was not boastful. He overcame hate with love.
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