I must admit, I did not know much of anything about Nelson Mandela before I saw the movie Invictus. After seeing this movie, I definitely had the desire to learn more about this man. I also need to make a note to read the book that the movie was based upon, Playing the Enemy, by John Carlin.There are many articles available discussing the leadership lessons from Mandela's term as president of South Africa, some of which are depicted in the book/movie. One is from The Washington Post, from John Baldoni, who wrote Five Leadership Lessons from "Invictus" on 16 Dec 09. Time Magazine's Richard Stengel also did a piece on 09 Jul 08 entitled Mandela: His 8 Lessons of Leadership. Both of these articles elaborate on the leadership that Mandela brought to South Africa following Apartheid.
The leadership traits I pulled from the movie are traits that I feel are noteworthy to discuss.
1. Patience. Nelson Mandela showed great patience; he had a lot of practice being in prison for 27 years. When he became president, he faced a significant issue with the unity of South Africa. He had a long term plan to unify the country and he remained focused. As the cliche goes, patience is a virtue. A good leader will demonstrate patience. Impatience leads to short tempers and irrational decisions, which help no one.
2. Accepted Change. Much had changed in South Africa while Mandela was in prison. When he was released, he had to accept the way things were at the moment if he wanted to change them. He did just that. The whites of South Africa loved the Springbok rugby team. The blacks of South Africa loved every team that played the Springboks. Mandela seized the opportunity to unite both whites and blacks behind this national team. It worked! Change is not always good, but neither is the status quo. A good leader will be open to change, to new ideas, and to more efficient ways to accomplish the goals.
3. Perseverance. Mandela never gave up on his goal to unite the citizens of South Africa. There were many obstacles, and I suspect, at times, he felt it was a lost cause. However, he continued the momentum until the goal was achieved. Good leaders don't give up the goal just because it is difficult. They thrive on the challenges until the goal is captured.
4. Determination. Mandela knew his goal of a united South Africa was a necessity for his country. He was determined to make this happen, because it was the right thing to do. This was not an easy task because there were many obstacles in the way. When a leader is faced with an obstacle, it should not deter him/her from achieving a goal; they must resolve to do what it takes.
5. Led by Example. Setting the standards is one thing, but living them is far more important. Mandela practiced what he preached. Others saw this and began to emulate him. This is a key leadership trait that will go a very long way.
I highly recommend this movie and I hope to read the book very soon. A lot can be learned from others; both good and bad. It is up to the individual to decide what traits he/she will adopt that will make the difference in their organization.
