Nelson Mandela is quoted as saying, “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead” (Nelson Mandela Foundation, 2013).
Northouse (2013) discusses five principles of ethical leadership: respects others, serves others, shows justice, manifests honesty, and builds community. It is my opinion that the late Nelson Mandela displayed all five of these principles. His mission was to eliminate social injustice and eradicate racism in his native South Africa. Despite many forms of provocation, he showed respect for others by never fighting racism with more racism. Instead, he served his country by being honest and showing people that, together, they could be a stronger country, despite their differences.
Figure 16.1 (Northouse, 2013, p. 426) demonstrates where leadership falls based on self-interest versus interest for others. According to this figure, Nelson Mandela would fall squarely in the “Altruism” category of ethical leadership. Throughout his life, he spent about 27 years in prison for his efforts to bring about changes in South Africa. In fact, his altruism is demonstrated in the following passage from the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s (2013) website: “In October 1963 Nelson Mandela joined nine other on trial for sabotage in what became known as the Rivonia Trial. Facing the death penalty, his words to the court at the end of his famous ‘Speech from the Dock’ on April 20, 1964 became immortalized: ‘I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.'”
Biography. (2013). Nelson Mandela Foundation. Retrieved December 6, 2013, from http://www.nelsonmandela.org/content/page/biography
Northouse, P. G. (2013). Leadership: theory and practice (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks: SAGE.