Nelson Mandela was able to show, through his actions, that
leadership is more than just talk. His
presidency was truly a disruption to his country. He had a decision to make when he took
office. He could make sweeping changes and alienate people or do things
differently and bring people together. He showed his desire to bring the country together through his daily actions. He kept as many of the Presidential Office staff that wanted to stay, kept white body guards, and worked tirelessly to support his country.
His move to use rugby, to bring the country together, was very
calculated and could have failed. But he was successful and stayed the course
even when people doubted his approach.
The country was so divided, there was not a way to use politics or other
means to bring people together.
As Stengal points out in his 2008, Time Magazine article,
Mandela had studied the Afrikaans and their beloved rugby as far back as the
1960s. He studied the game, players, and was able to discuss rugby with his prison guards. He also knew that the blacks and
Afrikaners believed them selves to both be Africans. This was a major factor in rallying the
country and bringing them together around the Springboks.
To make things work, he also had to support and encourage a
so-so rugby team. Mandela cultivated a relationship
with team captain Francois Pienaar. This
relationship provided encouragement and helped Francois think about things
differently. He then encouraged the team
to think about themselves and the country in a new way.
Invictus, Nelson Mandela's time as president, and his legacy provide a portrait of a truly talented leader that could determine the best approach for whatever problem was set in front of him to find the right solution.
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