Adaptive leadership of Nelson Mandela

By Asanga Abeyagoonasekera

The entire world wept the death of this amazing human being known as 'Father of new South Africa'. For some, he was an activist and human rights defender, for others a peace maker and social transformer. For all he was a role model and an inspirational leader.

Mandela is called a great leader for many reasons. I call him a great leader for one quality, 'Adoptive Leadership'.

Several years ago at Harvard Kennedy School I was taught by Prof. Marty Linsky that "Adaptive leadership is more difficult and dangerous, in different ways, than rescuing people from a fire. Adoptive challenges are hard to define and typically require people to reinterpret and question their own priorities and their habits of thinking and behaviour. When leading adoptive change you will court resistance by stirring the pot, upsetting the status quo, and creating disequilibrium" (Linsky and Heifeltz Practice of Adaptive Leadership).

If you carefully look at Mandela's journey you will see all the qualities of an adaptive leader bringing the most appropriate solution to the people of South Africa after a difficult time - from a segregated society to a unified society through 'Reconciliation'.

He has proved himself to be an 'adoptive leader' by changing from his pre-conceived positions and accepting the change required to build a prosperous nation. Not many great personalities took Mandela's path except for few great leaders such as Martin Luther King, Mother Theresa and Lincoln.

Anthony Robinson in 'Leadership for Vital Congregations' presents Moses as an excellent illustration of adaptive leadership. "Moses, who over the long stretch of the Exodus and wilderness journey helped former slaves make the transition from one reality - slavery, to a new and different one."

Mandela, when released from the prison, was a changed man ready to work on a new path. He was ready to reconcile. He chose the difficult path but made everyone believe that this was the only path for freedom and a united country. There was resistance because when you build a new state of affairs you have to sacrifice certain beliefs you stood for in the past.

Adaptive leaders are ready to take the unpopular path and find solutions with great courage. Mandela was an adoptive leader who was ready to make that change. He designed the process and gave leadership to build a new and different South Africa.

Nelson Mandela who was a prisoner for 27 years in Robben Island did change his rebellious position to a different position, which was to reconcile with his enemies. He was ready to invite his jailer to his inaugural ceremony.

He was an iconic leader in the transition process of South Africa, people looked at him as a symbol of the struggle against apartheid and then as a icon of reconciliation.

For a nation that has suffered for many years and gone through a transformation it's important to have an iconic leader for the people to look at and see as their hope.