Analyzing Leadership Style of Nelson Mandela

This assignment is a comprehensive analysis of Nelson Mandela's leadership style, examining his compassion, oratory skills, courage, and undying hope. It highlights his strong focus on goals and mission, as well as his democratic leadership style, which was effective in various contexts. The assignment also identifies leadership issues, such as commitment to mistakes made to reach goals, and keeping the same set of beliefs for a longer period of time in followers.

Leadership in context

Table of Contents
ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS...................................................................................................2
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7
APPENDIX......................................................................................................................................9

ABSTRACT
Leadership quality may not be possessed by each and every individual and hence require
adequate amount of efforts and positive thought process so as to become an effective leader
which can ultimately change life of his followers (Hui, 2015). To analyse various aspects and
styles of leadership in a leader, a description of various scenes of the movie Mandela: Long
Walk to Freedom have been made. The central character, that is Nelson Mandela happens to
reflect great leadership styles. One scene has been chosen is from the situation when he came out
of the prison and reflected the qualities of a leader in his oratory speech. However, another scene
that has been chosen is from the courtroom scenario when Nelson was accused of sabotage. One
thing that is common reflection in both the scenes is his visionary and oratory skills. Moreover, it
also reflects his courage, confidence and determination to achieve a particular goal.
INTRODUCTION
Leadership qualities can be demonstrated in an individual through positive thinking
behaviour, far sightedness and remarkable endurance. The qualities of a real leader can be
understood through a movie called, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. It is a British South
African biographical film which has been directed by Justin Chadwick from the written script of
William Nicholson. It is based on an autobiographical book Long Walk to Freedom released in
1995. It is based on the anti-apartheid revolutionary and former South African president Nelson
Mandela. The movie profiles his early age, education, 27 years of prison and finally becoming
president of South Africa (Hale, 2017). Some scenes have been selected from the movie which
are helping in clear depiction of various leadership style and technique being possessed by the
central character, Nelson Mandela. Further, the report also put through the argument that
effectively analyse each and every quality of Nelson through the dialogues being spoken by him
in those scenes. In the ends, based upon the discussion and analysis section, ultimate articulation
of the report will also be provided.
The character of Nelson Mandela in the movie is itself a strong character representing
leadership qualities. A moving ferry experience of life encouraging others to fight till the end.
Showing forgiveness to the world even after spending 27 long years in the prison. He was
considered to have a powerful presence and was able to disarm enemies with his smile. He was
also a visionary personality who could see bigger picture of every step. The determinant, patient
and humble nature helped him to become a leader of million of people living in South Africa.
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Hence, the main purpose of the report is to understand the effectiveness of leadership issues that
are present in the movie, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
A leader is considered to pursue the quality of strength and tolerance. Even after numerous
failures, the leader does not loose hope and walk towards the path of adversity, with the aim to
achieve success. The same was reflected in the move Mandela where in one scene when Nelson
was involved in the campaign of equality, he was sent to the prison (Ciulla, 2016). He spent 27
years of his life in Jail. He was kept is a confined cell where he was forced to indulge in hard
labour. Since, he was a politician prisoner, he used to enjoy fewer privileges. It is obvious for an
individual to lose his hope after receiving inhumane treatment in the prison. However, Nelson
stayed strong and ultimately, he was able to fuel international outcry against racist regime of
South Africa. It reflects the quality of leader who never give up on things and worked towards
his vision.
Another important quality of a leader is his humble and forgiving nature. The one to whom
all the followers look up to. Moreover, the one who never hide his faults and failings. One of the
courtroom scene being addressed by Nelson Mandela as a first accused can help in better
defining his leadership spirits (Cooke, 2016). The scene set up stated that nelson Mandela was on
trial in the high court of Johannesburg who was charged for treason and act of sabotage. He
agreed to the fact that he has been involved in Sabotage practices but his aim was not to create
any recklessness or violence. He was able to put his aspect and perspective regarding demanding
equal rights for black people as well. He stated that his fight is against white domination. The
aim was to provide all the people of Africa a place where people irrespective of their colours,
live with harmony and peace. His strengthening words, courage and thirst of achieving success
have reflected strong leadership qualities in him. Moreover, his sacrificing nature for Africans to
bring a change in the policies of social culture in South Africa were effective and impactful.
Mandela build his own roads which is simply chosen by common people. It requires strong
leadership qualities to deliver the best to the followers and become an ideal in front of them
(Pitcher, Frankland and Jones, 2016). The scene also reflects Mandela stated regarding he
cherished the idea of free and democratic society where all people can live together with
harmony and equal opportunities. He lives to see this state of Africa. But, if required, he can also
die to bring this change. The leadership framework reflected in this area was related to his thirst
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of building Africa against Apartheid. His undying hope and focus on goals and missions is
overpowering in this scene (McGahan, 2015).
Another scene from the movie is able to reflect the leadership where Nelson Mandela reads
letter written by him to the general public. Addressing the public and motivating them, stating
that, “There is only one way forward, that is peace”. He stated that he has forgiven to what has
happened to his life while spending 27 years life in prison. Forgiving is one of the major quality
that may not be possessed by all the individuals and is only possessed by a leader. Nelson
Mandela being a famous politician of South Africa also encouraged people to vote irrespective of
what is the colour of their skin. It shows motivating and encouraging quality possessed by
Mandela in his words. The oratory skills have been very well reflected in the movie. His public
speaking skills helps in playing a key role in his journey from imprisonment to the individual
who united Africans together. He had a quality to articulate himself well (Redford, 2017). The
beautiful words and sentences used in the speeches are quite motivating and encouraging. He
stated that a leader always tells its followers that you are wrong so that an individual can
improve his flaws. Moreover, his nature of forgiveness even after going through struggles all his
life is also reflected in the scene. The skills of Nelson Mandela are very well aligned to the
qualities and skills of leaders. He was able to become a renowned leader due to his movement
against apartheid. His forgiving nature and leading nature always helped him in driving towards
the path of success. Another leadership quality through which Nelson can be connected is sense
of humility and always focussing on needs and deeds of people rather than their ego. Nelson
have been seen taking unexpected decisions from the beginning of the movie in both his personal
and professional life. His motto was to serve the nation and bring equality (5 Nelson Mandela
Leadership Style Secrets, 2015). Different decisions taken by him was able to him in the public
eye. In that case, a lack of privacy expands and great responsibility comes on the leader. It
becomes important for the leader ton understand different aspects of the issue can take effective
decision that can be beneficial to the public at large (Ellis, 2016). Presenting himself as a role
model is important so that best can be received by the followers and their learning and thirst of
knowledge do not stop.
According to Denenberg (2014), There are certain common qualities that individual possess
and who ultimately becomes a leader. These are the people who are visionary and can see into
the future. They always have clear and exciting ideas and are able to accomplish through
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strategic planning. Having a clear vision makes them different from other individuals. They have
enough courage to conduct and lead any type of task. They are willing to take risk with the aim
of achievement of goals where there is no assurance of success. Hence, courage is rightly
considered to be the foremost of all the virtues. Mandela’s vision helped him to fight for
mankind It was due to his pre formed vision which motivated and make him believe that there is
still some of hope of improvement in his dark 27 years of imprisonment. His vision and courage
elected and made first president of South Africa. He was able to bring democracy for the people
of South Africa.
According to Zakarriya (2015), Emphasizing on leadership style, a good vision in life must
be for greater good. The purpose of an individual must be remembered as a blessing to rest of the
society. Hence, the deeds of an individual help in making him a leader or a follower. In that case,
Nelson Mandela in the movie depicts the quality of a leader who have millions of followers as
citizens of South Africa.
Another important aspect being noticed in Nelson Mandela is his objective of
empowering nation. He not only gave speeches and used his oratory skills but also helped in
organizing resistance to discriminatory legislation. In addition to this, he also armed and
innovated the citizens of nation to fight for their rights and their freedom (McCormack, 2014).
He also helped in expanding equality among the citizens so that every individual living in South
Africa is able to enjoy equal rights and practices. He encouraged them to fight against apartheid
and also motivated them to take appropriate steps against oppressions. These qualities helped
him to become first black president of South Africa. Hence, he was able to reflect leadership
qualities in him through remarkably effective techniques.
According to Frankel (2017), Another important aspect of a leader is to stay strong on
ethical values and constantly guiding the followers to stay on it as well. Being a leader, various
scenes of the movie: Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, utilitarianism leadership style was
established by him by soldiering ahead, as he had the morals and values to continue fighting.
Without compromising with the ethics, he can be described a hero or freedom fighter due to his
high level of perseverance until he was elected and made the highest authority of the country. He
owned the traits of high morale and responsible individual who embraced his followers towards
honesty.
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Nelson Mandela also owned the skills of being an effective orator. Whenever, he faced any
challenges, challenges and defences, he anticipated his opponent through effectively
communicating with him on the topic being brought forth. Communication aspect plays an
important role in the path of success of a leader. It helps him in coordinating with the followers,
delivering them lectures based upon the requirements of the project or mission. It embraces them
to fight for better outputs that help in successful completion of the project.
Mandela became a most influential personality who led a fight against apartheid in South
Africa. His enthusiasm in achieving his motives helped him in succeeding and attain freedom in
charismatic manner. Analysing his journey being shown in the movie, it is quite captivating and
influential for citizens being shown in the movie. The influential speeches were one of his
methods to reflects maximum impact being on the citizens (McCormack, 2014). It helped in
giving them strong belief to continue to fight for their rights. The leadership qualities in him can
be reflected through his acts. High undying trust in his citizens and being influential through
oratory skills moved the country towards a democratic aspect. Feeling of compassion for his
citizen and acknowledging his weakness as well helped him in maintain appropriate relationships
with his followers. According to Neto (2017), The transformational quality is another important
aspect of a leader. It is the duty of a leader to bring adequate amount of change in the thinking
perspective of followers. Getting inspiration from the individual who is a leader is considered to
be convincing in high degree. The fight of nelson Mandela for equality and against racial
discrimination is been appropriately presented in each and every scene of Mandela: Long Walk
to Freedom. The scenes being described above represents the fearless and visionary qualities of
Nelson Mandela.
Strategic planning plays an important role in this case, a leader is required to vision his step
before putting anything forward (Presence and Spicer, 2015). Set strategies and pre-planned
structure of anything prepared in a well-defined manner have higher chances of success in
comparison to the one which has not been properly planned. Further, judging pros and cons
aspects of the step is also important. In the case of Mandela, as per what has been reflected in the
movie, one can not be able to analyse the vision easily, but the objectives being framed by
Mandela reflect, authority, hope and belief in it. The truthful nature of Mandela is also reflected
in the scene when he admitted that he was involved in sabotage. However, he justified his steps
through truthful and strong words. He may be given prison for life afterwards. But after coming
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from prison as well, billions of people were standing in the ground to listen to the speeches of a
strong and trustworthy politician.
Hence, it can be analysed that the scenes of the movie, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,
has been able to reflect approximately all the qualities that a leader must possess is its central
character, Nelson Mandela (Simpson, 2017).
CONCLUSION
Based on the above report, it can be concluded that leadership qualities can not be created
through training but it is something which reflects an individual’s behavioural aspects. A strong
depiction of Nelson Mandela in the movie, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, have been made in
the report. It states that nelson possessed all the qualities of a leader. Hence, some of the
common qualities discussed in the report are, courage, trust, determination, communication
skills, compassion, vision, far sightedness etc. The two scenes chosen for analysis from the
movie reflects that the compassion and vision of Nelson did not change after facing hardships
and spending almost 27 years of life in prison. Further, with his leadership skills he was able to
abolish apartheid and racism from South Africa and became the first black president of the
country. He encouraged them to fight against apartheid and also motivated them to take
appropriate steps against oppressions. These qualities helped him to become first black president
of South Africa. Hence, he was able to reflect leadership qualities in him through remarkably
effective techniques.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Ciulla, J. B., 2016. Searching for Mandela: The insights of biographical
research. Leadership. 12(2). pp.186-197.
Cooke, P., 2016. Soft Power and South African Film: negotiating mutually incompatible
agendas?. New Cinemas: Journal of Contemporary Film. 14(1). pp.93-109.
Denenberg, B., 2014. Nelson Mandela:" no Easy Walk to Freedom". Scholastic Inc..
Ellis, S., 2016. Nelson Mandela, the South African Communist Party and the origins of
Umkhonto we Sizwe. Cold War History. 16(1). pp.1-18.
Frankel, P., 2017. Long Walk to Nowhere: Human Trafficking in Post-Mandela South Africa.
Routledge.
Hale, D. L., 2017. Long Walks to Freedom or Royal Roads to Servitude? How History Can
Broaden Our Culture and Deepen Our Humanity. International Journal of Social Science
and Humanity. 7(6). p.408.
Hui, V. T. B., 2015. The protests and beyond. Journal of Democracy. 26(2). pp.111-121.
McCormack, R., 2014. Reading Mandela: Genre Pedagogy versus Ancient Rhetoric. Linguistics
& the Human Sciences, 9(2).
McGahan, A. M., 2015. Jacob N. Shapiro: The Terrorist’s Dilemma: Managing Violent Covert
Organizations.
Neto, O. D. C. M., 2017. Long Walk to Pretoria: a study of the adaptation of Nelson Mandela’s
autobiography “Long walk to freedom” to the cinema in terms of subjectivity.
Pitcher, S., Frankland, T. and Jones, N., 2016. From sick old man to mythical hero: a comparison
of the Independent Online's representation of Nelson Mandela in 2010 and
2013. Communicare: Journal for Communication Sciences in Southern Africa. 35(1).
pp.94-107.
Presence, S. and Spicer, A. H., 2015. 'The general public don’t need to know who we are. We’re
building a profile for the industry as a whole’: Inward engagement in the UK film and
television industries.
Redford, K., 2017. Attention, Law Students: Our Country and Our Planet Need You to
Lead. Stan. L. Rev.. 69. p.1831.
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Simpson, T., 2017. Nelson Mandela and the Genesis of the ANC’s Armed Struggle: Notes on
Method. Journal of Southern African Studies, pp.1-16.
Zakarriya, J., 2015. Humanism in the autobiographies of Edward Said and Nelson Mandela:
memory as action. Third World Quarterly. 36(1). pp.198-204.
Online
5 Nelson Mandela Leadership Style Secrets. 2015. [Online]. Available through <
http://www.josephchris.com/5-nelson-mandela-leadership-style-secrets >
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APPENDIX
Movie scene
Leadership
characteristics
and traits
Leadership
behaviour
and
style
Group
member
characteristics
Internal and
external
environment
Your comments on
effectiveness and
leadership issues for
follow up/research
The scene shows the set
up of the court where he
was accused of
performing sabotage. In
that context he was able
to put his aspect and
perspective regarding
demanding equal rights
for black people as well.
(1:54 minutes)
 Compassion
 Oratory
skills
 Courage
 Undying
hope
 Strong focus
on goals and
mission
 Democratic
leadership
style
 Lawyers
 Judges
 Other
accused
candidates
Internal
environment
was peaceful
and
impactful
and external
environment
is loud and
aggressive
The leadership style
adopted by Nelson was
effective enough.
However, leadership
issues noticed is related
to commitment of
mistake which was
committed to reach to
the goal.
The scene shows a set up
where Nelson Mandela
was giving speech and
encouraging people to
vote and there were
various followers present
to listen to him (2:59
minutes)
 Motivating
 Encouraging
 Quality to
articulate
 Nature of
forgiveness
 Sense of
humility
 Democratic
leadership
style
 The
followers
who were
effectively
listening to
him and
following
his path.
Internal
environment
was peaceful
and
impactful.
The leadership style
being adopted by Nelson
is impactful. However,
one leadership issue
analysed in it is related
to keeping the same set
of beliefs for longer
period of time in
followers.
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