Nelson Mandela Leadership Quotations

It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.

If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.

If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.

A good leader can engage in a debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that at the end he and the other side must be closer, and thus emerge stronger. You don't have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial, and uninformed.

It is wise to persuade people to do things and make them think it was their own idea.

There are times when a leader must move out ahead of the flock, go off in a new direction, confident that he is leading his people the right way.

Unlike some politicians, I can admit to a mistake.

It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front.

Be a life long student, read as many books as possible.

You will achieve more in this world through acts of mercy than you will through acts of retribution.

Success in politics demands that you must take your people into confidence about your views and state them very clearly, very politely, very calmly, but nevertheless, state them openly.

One of the things I learned when I was negotiating was that until I changed myself, I could not change others.

Appearances matter — and remember to smile.

What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.

I like a leader who can, while pointing out a mistake, bring up the good things the other person has done. If you do that, then the person sees that you have a complete picture of him. There is nobody more dangerous than one who has been humiliated, even when you humiliate him rightly.

Lead from the back — and let others believe they are in front.