Leadership Interventions in InvictusStudent name

Leadership Interventions in InvictusIn the movie Invictus, Nelson Mandela’s early days and his leadership in South Africa are presented as a part of a larger plan to unite a divided country. Precisely, his view on the country’s rugby national team, the Springboks, and how he saw the global event, World Cup, being hosted in the country, as an opportunity to unite the people. Leading by example is one of the major leadership interventions Nelson Mandela uses in his governance (Arora, Teeschi, & Rovenpor, 2028). Mandela recognizes that if the national team win would be an excellent opportunity to unite the blacks and white. Leading by example, a leader expects more from himself other than waiting for others to do. Nelson Mandela instills this form of leadership to the team that everyone should do his best and not to expect others to do or blame them. This is demonstrated through his commitment to lead the way, personal connection with every person he meets, and his confidence in reflection.

In South Africa, the white cheered for the national team enthusiastically, whereas the black cheered any team as they viewed the national team springboks, and the competition to represent the whites and oppression they were experiencing in the country. The springbok’s captain, in his first meeting with the president, was uncertain about the reason for the meeting, but the warm greeting and respect and appreciation treatment he receives from the president makes him realize the importance of the meeting. Through the meeting, he shares the importance of a win to South Africa with the captain. He is also leading by example by challenging his staff to have a different perspective concerning issues and perspectives. He challenges his security staff to work together with the white colleagues as they have more experience. Additionally, the president memorizes names for the team players in order to give them personalized appreciation. The occasion leads by example in trying to build a good relationship and to call everyone to appreciate the national team.

In the desire to unite the country Nelson Mandela using the team to win the competition is faced with the challenge that only the whites support the national team while the blacks do not like to be associated with the team. The nation is widely divided in terms of racial discrimination is a big challenge. Mandela communicates to different people on his goal of transforming his country to manage this challenge. Resistance from personal guards is also a challenge to his vision of leading by example to unite the nation. To overcome the challenges, Nelson Mandela had led by example to unify the racially divided nation. To ensure he is able to execute his plan, he uses different opportunities that arise to unify the country. The national team was participating in the event not because it had qualified but the fact that the competition was held in the country and takes the opportunity to achieve his goal of uniting the country. He also uses the opportunity where employees of the past government were resigning, he asks those who shared his vision to remain in their job as he had forgiven them and believed the whites could change. Motivating people by leading them by example and inspiring them helped the president in achieving his goal. Nelson Mandela uses the opportunity of being the president to exercise power as it reinforces his impacts as a leader in a positive way.

If I was in such a situation where a country is divided in terms of racial discrimination, people are struggling due to the impacts of unemployment, and the arrival of a new black government has changed the balance of political dominance. Staying silent on the issue of racial discrimination has created these deadly effects. Solving the main challenge of racial discrimination would help in attaining the goal of uniting the country. Acknowledging the challenge that injustices caused by discrimination like unemployment of the black community and land ownership discrimination and make commitments to do better on the issues. Through recognition of the challenge, the environment will make it easy for everyone to speak up on the issue’s racial discrimination. Also, this will help in leveraging the opportunities that arise. Building a better culture that is dependent on core values that are not discriminative. This will be done by ensuring all those people I work with are diverse. All races are included in my workforce and retaining past employees. Spreading awareness on the issue of racial discrimination will help in addressing the challenge. When opportunities such as the rugby event arise, the event will be fully utilized in uniting people since the majority of citizens are aware it is a challenge they face. Finally, tackling a situation where racial discrimination arises, for instance, encompassing other races in the department where they are not employed.

References

Arora, P., Tedeschi, G. A., & Rovenpor, J. L. (2018). Broadening the frame around

sustainability with holistic language: Mandela and Invictus. Humanistic Management Journal, 3(2), 233-251.