Case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 18

Case study - Essay Example Some of his character traits that contributed to his recognition as a unique leader are compassion, forgiveness and humility. On his first day in office, Mandela gathers his staff for a meeting to express his expectations of his staff. Mandela takes charge and develops a plan to accomplish goals to show his duty as a leader. Integrity is portrayed when Mandela’s staff expects him to retaliate for decades of apartheid but instead he shows compassion and gives them the option to stay and rebuild the country. To show respect, Mandela leaves his body guards out in the hall because he wants to face everyone on an even level. Throughout Mandela’s speech the body language of the staff changes from expecting to be fired to realizing that they are welcome to stay on and work for a common goal. Mandela interrupts the meeting of the National Sports Council to persuade them to rescind their vote on changing the name of the Springboks, their uniforms and their emblem. He go es ahead and asks the captain about leadership, "How do you make them better than they think they can be?† in this case Mandela tries to practice the job of a leader in which it is to make the followers in believing that they are capable of doing more than they think it’s possible (Carlin, 2009). In order the organization to achieve its noble quest, the leader is required to not only see the horizon but also make what is over the horizon tangible. Mandela wanted to use the rugby team to reconcile the country and bring them together instead of resorting to petty revenge. Mandela’s actions demonstrate integrity by choosing the difficult right over the easy wrong. Transformation is one of the contemporary theories that is seen being applied to Mandela’s leadership. Mandela acts as a transformation leader for example in an individualized consideration. Mandela greets each player by his or her names, showing he respects each one individually.