Tribute to Nelson Mandela
(18
July 1918 – 5 December 2013)
As HRM
professionals and students, there is a lot we can imbibe from the life and ways
of ‘Madiba’. From the early days of defiance towards the apartheid to spending
27 years in prison and then winning South Africa’s first dignified democratic
election, Mandela was the last bastion of humane and inclusive leadership. As
the fortune of humanity would have it, the 20th century saw the
pinnacles of achievement of three great and like minded individuals: Mahatma
Gandhi, Martin Luther King .Jr and Nelson Mandela. And most of us were lucky
enough to have witnessed the presidency and prominence of Mandela.
He will be
remembered for a few traits that separated him from the standard lot of leaders
and revolutionaries of his time.
“You know, you can only lead from behind”- Nelson
Mandela, referring to cattle herding and its relevance to leadership.
In every
business communication programme of every B-School, we learn that listening is
the most important trait of an effective communicator and by extension, of an
effective leader. Mandela was one of these exemplary beings, who with abound
patience, listened to his people, colleagues and peers. His style of
communication was that of empathetic listening followed by giving a
well-rounded reply which gives his opinion out in a way that was clearly
understood by all. He imbibed this trait from his father, a tribal king. This
also served him well, as a professional lawyer, to have the final decision in
an argument. He ensured that his perspective took due consideration to all the
counsel available at his humble disposal.
Mandela was a
beacon of inclusive leadership. He believed in the most lucid interpretation of
democracy. The ‘Democracy’ he advocated gave even and equal
access to all subjects of South Africa. People of all tribes, races and
castes were made to feel a part of the nations governing entity. Never in the
history of the African continent, had such a sense of unity among diversity
ever flourish than under the guidance of Mandela.
"Courageous people do not fear forgiving, for the sake
of peace."- Nelson Mandela, to the widow of Hendrik Verwoerd (father of
the apartheid regime, assassinated by a mixed race South African)
Post dismantling
the apartheid regime, in a country having disjointed feelings towards the new
rules of freedom, he ensured the reconciliation of black and white sentiments.
From creating a political coalition that gave birth to one of the most diverse
representation of interests to giving the blacks of the nation a reason to
support the South African Rugby team at the World Cup.Madiba used his charisma
to appeal with simultaneous humility and authority to the nation, that now more
than ever, do they need to come together, rejoice and reconcile. It was
something as simple as being happy for the win of a national team, but he knew
that it went beyond a victory in sport.
“For to be free is not merely to cast
off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom
of others” – Nelson Mandela
Madiba, at the
height of his power and public appeal, vacated his office after one term as
president. In times like these, we seldom find such leaders who can, so easily,
give up the seat of authority. He ensured sanctity of the office and showed
that South Africa as a nation is bigger than who he is as her president. He
ensured that his image, through the eyes of the media, was one of a humble
South African man who just wanted what was rightfully his. He was innately or
did strive, to be as approachable and available
to anyone who wished his audience.
We have a lot to
learn from this man whose memory is still ripe in the minds of people. A
managers’ best tool is his counsel and his ability to assimilate those thoughts
with his own. Unless he lets go of the ego attached to his own ideas, he can
never truly achieve the synergistic greatness that all the best-in class and
time practices possess. One can correlate to Mandela’s unrelenting effort to
unify the cultural fabric in South Africa, to that role of an HR manager in
carrying out an organization development exercise. The lesson of righteous
inclusion of any and every constituent of an organization/nation stands
testimony to all managers. This message rings louder than ever in a time when
the organizational grasp is no longer limited to national or continental
boundaries.
We are also a
generation of management professionals who exist in a world where our every
move is scrutinized, measured by a metric and on record, thanks to the media
marvels of the day. It is now, more than ever, that we need to
imbibe within us the sense of prudence and transparency in our actions and
decision. Mandela’s words of perseverance and riding the tide are other virtues
leaders as well as managers can emulate. In times of strife and grave trouble,
one needs to be staunch in his self-belief and loyalty towards one’s unit,
operation and organization to not just jump ship at the next best opportunity
of an exit.
“Difficulties break some men but make
others. No axe is sharp enough to cut the soul of a sinner who keeps on trying,
one armed with the hope that he will rise even in the end.”- Nelson Mandela
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