Leadership Styles of Nelson Mandela: A Detailed Case Study Report

This report presents a comprehensive case study on Nelson Mandela's leadership, examining his leadership styles, including charismatic and transformational approaches, in the context of South Africa's struggle against racial discrimination. It analyzes the changes in his leadership style due to evolving circumstances, from his initial focus on freedom to his presidency. The report explores the qualities and lessons learned from Mandela's life, such as teamwork, patience, and confidence. It also compares Mandela's leadership to that of Martin Luther King Jr., highlighting their similarities and differences. Furthermore, the report identifies the personality dimensions, values, and attitudes essential for transformational leaders. The conclusion emphasizes the skills and attributes necessary for effective leadership, drawing insights from Mandela's life and leadership journey.

Report:- A case
study on Nelson
Mandela

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
1. Leadership style of Nelson Mandela.......................................................................................1
2. Changes in leadership style of Nelson Mandela due to circumstances...................................2
3. Learning about leadership style of Nelson Mandela...............................................................3
4. Similarities and difference of Nelson Mandela from other leaders and admirations as leader
.....................................................................................................................................................4
5. Personality dimensions, values and attitudes required to become a transformational leader. 5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Leading a team or a nation is one of the major responsibilities which requires special or
unique quality in a person. However, Nelson Mandela is a successful political leader whose main
objective is to create an environment free from discrimination on the basis of colour and he is
famous for his outstanding thought that is “long walk to freedom” (Tsatsire, Taylor and Raga,
2010). This assignment is going to highlight the leadership styles which are adopted by president
of South Africa in order to motivate others. Moreover, similarities or differences of Nelson
Mandela with other successful leaders are also given in this project. Lastly, report is throwing
light on necessary qualities or characteristics required to a person for becoming a
transformational leader.
1. Leadership style of Nelson Mandela
According to case study it has been observed that Nelson Mandela is very famous for its
self less activities as his first or foremost motive is to make a south Africa free from racial
discrimination. He believes that black people are also have the authority to raise their voice as
well as live their life in an appropriate manner without getting exploited by white society.
However, charismatic and transformational both the leadership style is suitable on first president
of south Africa because he believes in establishing a nation where overall society is enjoying
their rights without getting exploited by others and authority to do anything instead of any fear or
hesitation (McMahon and et. al., 2012). Beside this as per survey report it is analysed that in the
previous era Africans are encountering problem of colour discrimination due to which Nelson
Mandela is coming with different ideas or strong viewpoints in order to eradicate identifies
obstacles from whole nation. Transformational leadership and charismatic both are almost
similar but different in few aspects but if there is a question about Nelson Mandela then both the
style is appropriate for him because of his success or sacrifices.
Charismatic Transformational
Leaders whomsoever are believing in
enhancing the entire society by implementing
various programmes are falls under this
category.
Whereas, leaders believes in inspiring their
followers as per vision of team head are known
as transformational.
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Hence, by comparing these two leadership styles it has been analysed that Nelson
Mandela is following both the technique as per circumstances changes. For example initially he
wants to make a state of discrimination free on colour basis whereas later on after becoming a
first president of south Africa he is trying to encourage his followers to follow norms, beliefs,
values, rules and regulations designed by him. It means both the styles of leading a nation or a
state is suitable on successful leader of African region.
(Source:- Stone, 2018)
(As per above diagrammatic representation it is understood that a great leader must
requires these qualities or skills in order to perform their task in an appropriate manner by
fulfilling needs of every individual).
2. Changes in leadership style of Nelson Mandela due to circumstances
Life cycle of Nelson Mandela is full of sacrifices or struggles because his main focus in
to enhance the nation by removing development barriers and his main focus in to removal of
discriminatory activities (Morselli and Passini, 2010). Initially he is following a charismatic
leadership style due to his motive but after acquiring power his potentiality or dream changes as
per situational demand. In fact every member modified their way of living life because of
fluctuation in several other factors or variables. Therefore, various stages or circumstances of
Nelson Mandela and reason behind changes in leadership styles is describing as follows:-
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Illustration 1: Transactional Leader or a Transformational Leader

Initial phase:- His life begins with struggling for freedom in order to design a south
Africa free from discrimination on racial basis. Therefore, in starting period he is adopting
charismatic leadership style because his main motive is to bring changes in overall country by
conducting various useful or appropriate programmes. In fact, half of the life of Nelson Mandela
was spent in prison but still fighting for freedom with the support of multi democracy team.
After becoming a President (Nelson Mandela):- He is a first former president of South
Africa whose main motive is to transfer overall country as per their thoughts or opinions by
encouraging their followers to follow norms designed by him. As per his viewpoints listening is
more significant than talking due to which he is trying to motivate individuals towards this
theory.
(Source:- Owens, 2017)
Consequently, it is understood that style of leading a team or a nation is always changes
due to fluctuation in several other facts or figures. Thus, Nelson Mandela also changes in mode
of dealing with followers because of alteration in situations.
3. Learning about leadership style of Nelson Mandela
After considering overall scenario it is analysed that number of things are acquired by
following life style of Nelson Mandela because his life is full of sacrifices or struggles in which
he is involving in a fight for democracy (Morselli and Passini, 2010). Basically, main objective is
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Illustration 2: Nelson Mandela

to make a nation free from inappropriate activities such as; discrimination on the basis of colour,
promoting significant of studies when he was in prison. Therefore due to which his block in
prison is denoted as a “Mandela university” because of opinions or thoughts expressed by him
while encouraging others towards gaining knowledge in order to improve skills. However,
number of things or quality is learned by thorough of Nelson Mandela life cycle which is further
explained:- Togetherness:- As per this factor it has been understood that working in a team is one of
the major power to convince others as well as aids in accomplishing work in a minimum
time period. For example, successful leaders always believes in this terminology and they
follow also in order to perform democratic activities with the consent of others. Patience level:- It is very indispensable for leaders to have a high level of patience in
order to face numerous of difficulties without hesitation or fear.
 Confidence:- Leaders are responsible for making final decision due to which they must
have high level of confidence (Swart, Lombard and de Jager, 2010).
4. Similarities and difference of Nelson Mandela from other leaders and admirations as leader
Successful leaders are having a major quality or characteristics which makes them
differentiate from others as well as act as a inspiration for their subordinates. Basically,
similarities and differences with other leaders are describing as follows:-
Nelson Mandela versus Martin Luther kind Jr. :- Both are having a same objective or
target but different in some aspect. It means these two successful leaders are fighting for similar
goal but for two distinct region that is south Africa and Atlanta Georgia united states (Owens,
2017). Therefore similarities or differences between these two are:-
Nelson Mandela Martin Luther king Jr.
 He is fighting for racial segregation and
popular as a first dark CEO.
 Spend his childhood in Qunu, South
Africa and completed his bachelors of
arts from university of Fort Hare in
almost 1943.
 Nationality is South African.
 Focussed on social liberty.
 Enjoy is initial stage of life in Atlanta
and acquired a degree of bachelors in
sociology in around 1948 from
Morehouse.
 He is a American.
 He is a Christian.
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 Following a Methodist religion.
 He was served as a president of a
nation.
 Main objective is to focus on
apartheid movements in order to
remove racial discrimination.
 Whereas Martin was a king.
 Focussed on creating a peace and
involving in several number of
movements of American as well as
African.
Hence, it is analysed that both the leaders are working for development of society but
having a different way of representing it.
5. Personality dimensions, values and attitudes required to become a transformational leader
Transformational leaders are having a very clear vision about their goals or objectives
and motivate their subordinates to follow designed path. Their main motive is to assist entire
nation towards vision in order to attained set standards (Schoon and et. al., 2011). Thus, various
dimensions, values and attitudes which is required to become a transformational leader is
describing as follows:- Courage:- It means must have the potentiality to make an effective decisions by
considering necessary facts or figures. Self motivation :- It is essential to get encourage towards their set vision in order to assist
others in better way without having any confusion.
 Act as a inspiration:- Leader must have some achievements or acquired rewards in their
life so that their superior get motivated (Stone, 2018).
CONCLUSION
From the above report it has been summarised that to become a successful leader is not
an easy because it requires lots of skills, talents or unique attributes in order to encourage other
also. Thus report was all about life cycle of Nelson Mandela who is a one of the most popular
leader in south Africa and first Dark CEO whose main objective is to create a nation free from
racial discrimination. Along with this, by analysing this report learner should get aware about the
qualities required to become a transformational leaders and distinguish quality of Nelson
Mandela with others.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Tsatsire, I., Taylor, J.D. and Raga, K., 2010. Local service delivery enhancement-attitudes: a
case study of the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality. TD: The Journal for
Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa. 6(1). pp.271-286.
McMahon, M and et. al., 2012. Examining process constructs of narrative career counselling: An
exploratory case study. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling. 40(2). pp.127-141.
Morselli, D. and Passini, S., 2010. Avoiding crimes of obedience: A comparative study of the
autobiographies of MK Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace
and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology. 16(3). p.295.
Morselli, D. and Passini, S., 2010. Avoiding crimes of obedience: A comparative study of the
autobiographies of MK Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace
and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology. 16(3). p.295.
Swart, A.J., Lombard, K. and de Jager, H., 2010. Exploring the relationship between time
management skills and the academic achievement of African engineering students–a
case study. European Journal of Engineering Education. 35(1). pp.79-89.
Schoon, M and et. al., 2011. Synthesis: vulnerability, traps, and transformations—long-term
perspectives from archaeology. Ecology and Society. 16(2).
Online
Stone, 2018. [Online]. Available through<http://charlesstone.com/are-you-a-transactional-leader-
or-a-transformational-leader-take-this-test-and-find-out/>.
Owens, 2017. [Online]. Available through<http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.in/2017/08/frog-
hospital-tells-stories-about.html>.
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