Original Question:
Select an individual that you believe exhibits authentic leadership. This individual can be historical or contemporary. Provide specific examples that support how this person exhibits authentic leadership. What is the role of authentic leadership in creating trust and followership in this example, and how can it improve organizations?
Classmate Response: (Respond to this):
For this example I chose to talk about Nelson Mandela and the impact he had in his home country of South Africa and why I consider him to be a great leader.A great leader is someone who has the ability to establish powerful personal relationships, to earn the trust and respect of others, and to honor their roles and responsibilities but also show consistency, genuineness, and openness to others. Nelson Mandela, or “Madiba,” as he was affectionately known, is arguably the most famous African. A man who gave so much for his people that even his critics agree he was irrefutably an extraordinary man. When Mandela took power, he sought to bring whites, blacks, and other minorities together. Some expected him to favor blacks, particularly those from his Xhosa tribe, but because of his vision for a rainbow nation, South Africa is currently benefiting from its rich diversity economically, intellectually, and culturally. “Mandela’s extraordinary achievement was to encourage racial harmony, forgiveness without forgetting, power sharing, and a strong focus on the future, not the past” Schoemaker, 2019). Mandela was a great South African leader because he responded to the expectations of all South Africans across races and background. Mandela was someone that was looking forward. He realized that if you want to achieve something you have to cooperate. You have to work together to get somewhere.
I think that the Idea that you have to work together to eventually strive and succeed can work in any organization. Creativity thrives when people work together on a team. Brainstorming ideas as a group prevents stale viewpoints that often come out of working solo. Combining unique perspectives from each team member creates more effective selling solutions. What you have learned from your individual experiences is entirely different from your coworkers. Thus, teamwork also maximizes shared knowledge in the workplace and helps you learn new skills you can use for the rest of your career. Working together lets employees build on the talents of their teammates. While ones strength may be creative thinking, a another one might shine in organization and planning.
The 3 Decisions That Made Mandela a Truly Great Leader, Paul Schoemaker, December 5, 2016, https://www.inc.com/paul-schoemaker/what-made-nelson-mandela-such-a-great-leader.html
At least 200 words. APA. Needs one scholarly reference.
