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Leadership Theories
The Trait Approach
1. Nelson Mandela have several traits that help him to become a
great leader.
2. The first traits is optimism and self-confidence because
Nelson Mandela think that South
Africa will not have Apartheid sstem forever and he has a strong
belief that he can endthe Apartheid one da.
!. The second trait is honest and integrit because Nelson
Mandela never compromised his
integrit despite the e"treme challenges he faced. #or e"ample$
he has refused conditional
release from prison because he need to renounces violence$ and
violent protest that bring
changes to the political sstem in South Africa. %e also being
truthful to his supporters
and followers which make him to be elected b them to become the
first black president
in South Africa.
&. The third trait is drive because Nelson Mandela was
motivated b the goal 'end the
Apartheid( and fight against the Apartheid consistentl even
though he was imprisoned in
)ail for 2* ears because of it.
The +ontingenc Approaches
1. This approach stated that leadership results when the ideas
and acts of the leader match
the needs and e"pectations of the follower in a particular
situation.
2. ,n #iedlers +ontingenc Model$ Nelson Mandela can be
considered as a relationship-
oriented leader which mean the leader is concerned with people.
Nelson Mandela alwas
tr to engage with the people in South Africa regardless of races
to be tolerable and
supportive to each other. %e cares about the people in South
Africa and listen to their
needs. The situation ma be moderatel favourable when Nelson
Mandela has become
president. The reason is the leader-member relations is good and
position power is high.
%owever$ task structure might not high as this is the first time
for the part to rule the
countr. According to the theor$ relationship-oriented leader is
more effective in a
moderatel favourable situation because human relations skills
are important to achieve
high group performance and can create positive group
atmosphere.
The Personal Side of Leadership
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1. eadership mind / Nelson Mandela has good mental models as a
great leader
independent thinking %e is willing to stand out against
Apartheid
and the government. %e does not accept the
Apartheid blindl.
open-mindedness Nelson Mandela knew of the depth of povert
and struggle that his people had endured$ ethe also knew all so
well without ever
forgetting his native born heritage of roalt
in which he was raised as a child. The
combination of the two sides of apartheid and
roalt allowed Mandela to have an open
mind about strategicall approaching each
challenge.
Sstems thinking %e can see the situation of his countr as a
whole and demand a change for his countr.
0ersonal Master %e does not let realit pull his vision
downward toward it. "ample$ as activist foranti-apartheid
movement$ when he realied
that non-violence protest did not bring an
effects$ he choose to embrace armed struggle.
2. eadership emotion / Nelson Mandela has a high degree of
emotion intelligence.
Self-awareness 3hen Mandela was sent to )ail he
alread possessed 4ualities of self-
awareness that helped him to accept the
decision of the court instead of tring to
fight it5 6, was made b the law a
criminal$ not because of what , had donebut because of what ,
stood for7.
Self-management %e remain optimistic despite the
challenges he faced and e"ercising self-
control when he was in )ail.
Social awareness 8uring the time that Nelson Mandela
was imprisoned he came to understand
that 6ou mustnt compromise our
principles but ou mustnt humiliate the
opposition. No one is more dangerous
than one who is humiliated7 which
meaning that being aware of others andour impact on them is
vital.
9elationship Management %e managed to build relationship
with
his )ailors when he is imprisoned. %e
learned to listen and understand them
although the ma have different
perspectives.
