This year is the centenary of the
birth of one of the world’s most inspirational leaders, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela who became South Africa’s first democratically elected president
in 1994.
Mandela was awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize (jointly with F.W. de Klerk) in 1993 for his work in helping to end
racial segregation in South Africa. He is considered to be the father of the
democratic South Africa and was widely admired for his visionary leadership skills and ability to bring together a nation that was previously divided by
apartheid.
Here are my 12 favourite quotes by
Mandela on the subject of leadership.
"A good leader can engage in a
debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that at the end he and the other side
must be closer, and thus emerge stronger. You don't have that idea when you are
arrogant, superficial, and uninformed."
"It always seems impossible until
it's done."
"If you want to make peace with
your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your
partner."
"If you want the cooperation of
humans around you, you must make them feel they are important - and you do that
by being genuine and humble."
"I learned that courage was not
the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does
not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."
"Everyone can rise above their
circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about
what they do."
"Lead from the back - and let others
believe they are in front."
"If you talk to a man in a
language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language,
that goes to his heart."
"A real leader uses every issue,
no matter how serious and sensitive, to ensure that at the end of the debate we
should emerge stronger and more united than ever before."
"One cannot be prepared for
something while secretly believing it will not happen."
"May your choices reflect your
hopes, not your fears."
"A winner is a dreamer who never
gives up."
To see hundreds more articles visit our archive by clicking here
To see hundreds more articles visit our archive by clicking here