In the competitive and advancing world where challenges emerge under unpredictable scenarios, people need leaders to guide and influence them to succeed. The primary attribute of a leader is based on a person’s ability to organize and motivate followers. According to Gordon (n.d.), good leaders mobilize others to achieve common goals. In the process of affecting others or leading by example, they exhibit unique personal and leadership traits to be emulated. Zaccaro (2003) defines leadership traits as inborn, implying that even though people can learn leadership skills, they also need unique innate abilities. These abilities are exhibited through attributes such as anger management and endurance. Patel (2017) and Prive (2013) discuss some unique personality traits and characteristics of good leaders. According to Patel (2017), good leaders are self-managing before they manage others. They are strategic in planning and set clear and achievable goals.

Nelson Mandela sets the best example as a good leader. He set a strategic goal of leading his country to freedom from racial and oppressive colonial government. According to Pietersen (n.d.), Mandela was imprisoned for twenty-seven years. At one point, the oppressor offered to set him free from prison, but he said that he would only leave jail when the oppressor had set the people of color free. He exhibited personal traits in leadership by enduring the jail term, in spite of having an offer to be set free. He was also strategic in his plans. He hoped for freedom, setting strategic plans for his political party that kept the party active in spite of his time in jail. His determination bore fruits when the British government decided to end the system of apartheid that had denied the people of color access to opportunities enjoyed by colonial masters.

References

Gordon, M. (n.d.). Leadership. Roffey Park. Retrieved from https://www.ucd.ie/t4cms/Leadership%20Guide%20(Roffey%20Park).pdf

Patel, D. (2017). Eleven powerful traits of successful leaders. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/deeppatel/2017/03/22/11-powerful-traits-of-successful-leaders/#225dd3fa469f

Prive, T. (2013). Top ten qualities that make great leaders. Forbes. Retrieved from http://deeelliottconsulting.com/system/files/QualitiesOfAGoodLeader.pdf

Pietersen, W. (n.d.). What Nelson Mandela taught the world about leadership. Retrieved from https://williepietersen.com/wp-content/uploads/pdf/NelsonMandela.pdf

Zaccaro, S., Kemp, C. & Bader, P. (2003). Chapter five: Leadership traits and attributes. Antonakis. Retrieved from https://us.corwin.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/5014_Antonakis_Chapter_5.pdf

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