Lasting legacy : Nelson Mandela's evolution as a strategic leader

Lasting legacy: Nelson Mandela's evolution as a strategic leader

The life story of Nelson Mandela is well known, and elevated him to the level of such widely recognised heroes as Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa. There was indeed much courage, sacrifice, wisdom and nobility in his life -attributes that demand our deep respect and have much to teach us.

What is less well-known is how Mandela evolved into the kind of strategic leader who, from prisons on Robben Island and elsewhere, helped to bring genuine democracy to South Africa. For example, while isolated from his fellow prisoners by force, he steered secret government meetings toward the abolishment of apartheid and free elections. Subsequent to that, he became the country's first democratically elected black president.

Mandela's remarkable story holds valuable lessons for other leaders involved in deep struggles, foremost among which are the importance of holding firm to a morally just vision and the ability to influence a sequence of key strategic decisions over time (decades, in his case) in order to bring about truly remarkable results.

Three decisions especially stand out in Mandela's evolution as a strategic leader. To appreciate these fully, however, we need to understand some of the social and political contexts that shaped his career and values.

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Mandela's Transformation: A Lesson for Us All

Mandela's Transformation: A Lesson for Us All

Today, Nelson Mandela is in the hearts of many.

Renowned around the globe as a symbol of equality, freedom, and moral fortitude, Mandela is one of the most revered leaders and public figures of our time. His face is associated with peace and persistence and his name consistently comes up next to the likes of Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa and Martin Luther King Jr. Mandela's international legacy is build upon his lifelong campaign against South Africa's segregationist apartheid system and the incredible story of how he survived 27 years in prison to be elected the first black president in the country's first-ever fully representative election. He is widely considered the founding father of South Africa's democracy, and is often referred to as tata -- the Xhosa word for "father" -- by South Africans.

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