Mintzberg and Mandela both emphasized the importance of self-reflection, understanding others, and leading through challenging times of change. Mandela drew on his experience in prison to develop empathy and think deeply about solving problems. Both noted that changing society requires inner change in people and leaders must understand contexts and work with others globally and locally. Mandela likened a leader to a shepherd who guides from behind and said freedom requires continuing responsibility through further change.

1. Mindsets, Managers and Leaders

2. HENRY MINTZBERG NELSON MANDELA

3.  Mintzberg: Managing the self
 Understanding
 Empathy
 Action
 Mandela
 In a letter to Winnie Mandela
▪ “… learn to know yourself ... to search realistically and
regularly the processes of your own mind and feelings.“

4. – On how time for reflection in jail made him more
humane and perceptive to the needs of others
after having been quite harsh and inconsiderate:
• “But I was able to do this because I had time to think
about it, whereas outside jail - from morning to sunset -
you are moving from one meeting to the other, and
there is no time to think about problems. Thinking is one
of the most important weapons in dealing with
problems ... and we didn't have that outside.“
– On the need for changing the self:
• “One of the most difficult things is not to change society
- but to change yourself”

5. • Mintzberg : Managing Organizations
– Understand systems and interrelationships between
policies, strategy, structure and people
– Wholism
• Mandela
– In a speech to the Groote Kerk NG gemeente:
• “Dit is ons eerste taak as regering om die basiese lewens-
omstandighede van mense te verander en te verbeter deur
die voorsiening van huise, skoon water, elektrisiteit,
gesondheidsorg, ordentlike onderwys, werksgeleenthede,
veiligheid en beskerming.

6. ▪ Ons leer egter daagliks dat daar 'n nog meer basiese
taak van heropbou voor ons lê om ons land en
samelewing kern-gesond te maak, en lewensvatbaar te
hou.
▪ Dit is die taak van 'n morele heropbou. Die beste
pogings van 'n regering of owerheid, sal vrugteloos wees
as die mense van 'n land nie in hul eie lewens en
innerlike 'n verandering ondergaan nie.
▪ Selfsug, korrupsie, 'n gebrek aan 'n gemeenskapsgevoel
en naastediens - hierdie is die geestelike vyande van ons
pogings om 'n nuwe samelewing te bou waaring ons
almal in ordentlikheid kan saamleef.

7.  Mintzberg: Managing Context
 Deal with the global and local contexts in a
“glocal” way
 Mandela in a speech to the Dutch Parliament:
▪ “As we approach the new millennium, the world faces
greater challenges than ever before. They include
growing poverty, despite the capacity of the world
economy to produce the means for solving the problems
of poverty.

8. – We see our environment being loaded beyond
sustainability. The worst that we can do is to close our
eyes to these and problems. Knowing this
Parliament's record I do not believe the Netherlands
will close its eyes.
– Nor, we can assure you, will South Africa. So we can
rest assured that our countries will stand side by side
to face these challenges. In our increasingly
interdependent world, none of the serious problems
can be solved by any of us alone. Whatever happens
in our part of the world can impact on those in other
parts.”

9.  Mintzberg: Managing Relationships
 Provide a relationship base for synergistic work
 Mandela:
 “I always remember the axiom: 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.”

10. • Mintzberg: Managing Change
– Hold the direction and provide a steady course in
turbulence
• Mandela:
– “I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried
not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I
have discovered the secret that after climbing a great
hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to
climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a
view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look
back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for
a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and
I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended.”