Positive Leadership Theory

Positive Leadership Theory

In the discussion about positive leadership focuses on the leadership style of nelson Mandela.  The positive leadership theory implies that a leader executes their duties dynamically and powerfully with the determination of realizing the organizational goals. Mandela (1918-2013) is one of the most admirable leaders in South Africa whose leadership qualities enabled him to become the first black president of South Africa. Mandela made a tremendous contribution to the success of the ANC party. The ANC party is the largest and the oldest organization in South Africa. Mandela joined the African national congress in 1944, where he served as the president of the party from 1991 to 1997.  Mandela becomes the first black president of South Africa on the ANC party by winning the 1994 Presidential election.

Mandela had numerous positive attributes that helped him demonstrate ethical leadership qualities as a member and as a leader of the party. Mandela’s most outstanding characteristic was defiance; Mandela would actively stand for what he believed was right of the people of South Africa demonstrated by his active stance against the apartheid policies (Hartman, DesJardins & MacDonald, 2018).  Despite the suffering he had to undergo in the time he was in prison, he did not waver for his determination to stop apartheid.  The action by Mandela in his against apartheid is a clear manifestation of peace, justice intelligent, and a moral man who prioritized ethical behavior in his actions (Chasi et al., 2016). The action and moves by Mandela in his struggle to stop apartheid and when he became the president make him an exemplar of the ethical leadership.

Mandela believed in the utilitarianism leadership style, whereby the leader leads by example.  The utilitarianism leadership style considers the outcome of the decisions that the leader makes in the organization, that compel the leader to make decisions that are of the best interest of the organization.   Through Mandela’s leadership style, he has influenced many leaders to embrace positive and ethical leadership behavior (Baker, 2017). Leadership is the ability of the leaders to influence the group of people towards the realization of the group goals. Besides, it is essential to note that the leaders need to align their values to the organization’s values. Through the organizational values, effective leadership is manifest in the organization, which helps the organization realize its purpose for formation (Lewis & Lewis, 2012).  From the time Mandela got into a leadership position when he was appointed the leader of ANC in Johannesburg, he aligned his action to the values of the party that facilitated his promotion to become the president of the ANC party in 1991. Mandela identified his leadership style with vision and inspired the other members of the African national congress to follow his direction in achieving the goals of the party (Hartman, DesJardins & MacDonald, 2018).  Therefore, the leader should use the Mandela use model positive, ethical behavior because he influences other people by showing them how a leader needs to uphold high ethical standards within the organization.

Based on the lessons I derive from the leadership style that Mandela used, as a leader, I would model positive, ethical leadership for others by using utilitarianism and democratic leadership style. Through the utilitarianism leadership style, leaders are actively getting involved in tailoring the organization towards the realization of its goals and objectives (Arslan et al., 2016). It is evident that when Mandela became the president of the African National Congress in 1991, he utilized his exceptional leadership skill to influence the other member of the party toward remain determined to the mission and the vision of the party. Throughout his leadership, Mandela upheld high ethical standards when he led the fight against apartheid.  Besides, I would embrace the use of democratic leadership style by providing other people with the opportunity to air their grievances and positively respond by finding an amicable solution to the people to the challenges facing the members of the organization. When the problems are not attended to, they may hinder the achievement of the organizational goals and objectives.

The modeling of the positive and ethical leadership behavior generally allows leaders to set the standards of the organization by influencing the direction of the behavior in which they expect the members of the organization to adopt.  An ethical leader will set a high level of ethical standards within the organization and act according to the set standards.  The leader influences the ethical values of the organization through their behavior (Hartman, DesJardins & MacDonald, 2018). Besides, the leaders serve as role models for their followers and the people whom they lead within the organization by showing the followers the ethical boundaries set to govern the behavior of the members of the organization. The followers imitate the behavior of the leader; hence a moral leader is instrumental in the creation of a culture of ethical behavior within the organizations (Lewis & Lewis, 2012). Ethical behavior in the organization helps build a stronger bond between the leader and the follower in the organization. A moral leader takes to take into consideration the grievances and the view of all the members of the organization before coming up with critical decisions that influence the direction and the success of the organization. The concept of positive leadership in the organization enhances unity in the organization that is essential in the realization of the goals and objectives of the organization.

Based on the reading about the leadership styles used by Nelson Mandela during his struggle against apartheid and when he became the president of the African national congress and finally the president of South Africa. It is manifest that the three most essential qualities for a leader who models positive, ethical leadership comprise integrity, influence, and defiance.  The qualities are important because they help the leader to remain determined in his course of action aimed at achieving predetermined goals and objectives (Lewis & Lewis, 2012). When a leader upholds a high level of integrity within the organization, his action depends on the ethical standards set within the organization hence enhancing ethical behavior among his followers. A leader of integrity is respected by the people he led and even the opponents. Besides, when a leader is defiance, he will remain focused on his course of action despite the challenges the organization faces until they accomplish their mission. Lastly, another essential quality is influential, an influential leader posse the power to determine the direction in which the followers will take regarding a given situation in the organization. Ultimately, it is prudent to note that the concept of effective implementation of the concept of positive leadership theory is instrumental in enhancing transparent and ethical leadership within the organization. Positive and ethical leadership is essential for the success of any organization.

Reference

Arslan, H. K., & Turhan, Y. (2016). Reconciliation-oriented leadership: Nelson Mandela and South Africa. All Azimuth: A Journal of Foreign Policy and Peace, 5(2), 29-46.

Baker, J., & Baker, C. (2017). Servant leadership: The case of Nelson Mandela. SAGE Publications: SAGE Business Cases Originals.

Chasi, C., & Levy, N. (2016). Mandela and excellent African leadership: lessons from an appreciative thematic analysis.

Hartman, L., DesJardins, J., & MacDonald, C. (2018). Business Ethics: Decision Making for Personal Integrity & Social Responsibility. (4th ed.)  McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 9781260151862

Lewis, A., & Lewis, H. (2012). Leading Through Turbulence: How a Values-Based Culture Can Build Profits and Make the World a Better Place. (1st ed.). McGraw-Hill.  ISBN: 9780071777100