Principles from Nelson Mandela
Leading from Behind: Lessons from Nelson Mandela
Estimated reading time (2 minutes)
Happy Friday, everyone.
Welcome to Principles Friday, where I share one principle that can help you in your life or business, one thought-provoking question, and one call to action toward that principle.
Principle of the Week
“A leader…is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind.” by Nelson Mandela.
Nelson Mandela is an exceptional case study in leadership as he is universally recognized as a great leader. Unlike other personalities, opinions about him do not vary across different nations. Mandela learned to be a great leader from his father, a tribal chief.
Nelson Mandela's father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, was a respected counselor to the Thembu royal family. One day, the tribal leaders were meeting to discuss an important matter, and Gadla was asked to sit among them. However, Gadla did not sit at the front of the group as the other counselors did. Instead, he sat at the back of the gathering, quietly observing and listening to the discussions.
When the meeting was over, Gadla explained to his son, Nelson, that he chose to sit at the back of the group because he believed that a leader should not assert their authority by seeking the most prominent seat or trying to dominate the conversation. Instead, he believed that true leaders should focus on serving their community, listening to the concerns and ideas of others, and finding ways to work together to achieve common goals.
Nelson Mandela learned the importance of holding his opinions until everyone else had spoken. This skill ensures that everyone feels heard and has the opportunity to contribute. Additionally, it allows one to listen to all perspectives before forming their own opinion. The key is to keep your opinions to yourself, ask questions to understand others' views, and speak last. This skill is challenging, but it is essential for effective leadership.
Question to Ponder
How can you effectively guide and direct your team without micromanaging or taking over? How can practicing being the last to speak improve your leadership abilities and relationships with others?
In business or life, this principle highlights the importance of leadership through guidance and direction rather than control and domination. It suggests that leaders should empower their team members to take the initiative and be innovative while providing support and guidance from behind.
Call to Action
In your next meeting or conversation, challenge yourself to hold back your opinions and be the last to speak. Instead, focus on listening attentively to what others say and asking thoughtful questions to understand their perspectives better. Practice this skill regularly and observe how it positively impacts your leadership and communication abilities.
Video of the Week
Here is a video from Simon Sinek on Nelson Mandela as a True Leader.
If you want to learn more principles, I interview founders on my podcast, The First 100, where they share how they acquired their first 100 paying customers. This week:
Episode 63 - The First 100 with James Clift, the founder of Durable | Viral Marketing | Generative AI
Episode 62 - The First 100 with Geoffrey Moore | Crossing the Chasm | Disruptive Marketing
And that’s a wrap for now!
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