Leadership
lessons
Siza Mtimkulu talks to ANC and national
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe about his
inspirations, role-models and, ultimately, what it
takes to guide a nation
T
hrough his short stint as Role-models
President of our country as well The story about the role played by
as in his current role as Deputy the late Father Trevor Huddleston, an
President, of both the country and the Anglican priest and leading civil-rights
ruling party, Kgalema Motlanthe has activist who was vocal in his opposition
kept a low profile. This does, however, of the apartheid government, made an
not mean that he hasn’t been playing impression on the young Motlanthe,
a vital and positive role in our country’s who served as an altar boy at the P
leadership structures. same parish. R
In a rare recorded interview that At the time he could not imagine he
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took place recently in Esselen Park in would be playing a large role in South
Gauteng, the Deputy President gives a African politics. “I never really thought
F
glimpse of his approach to leadership. I would be involved in the national
I
L
When asked for some tips for future politics that came later,” he says.
leaders Motlanthe quotes the Bible He cites as his role-models some of
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book of Luke: “We must all regard the great ANC leaders that came before
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ourselves as unworthy servants.” He him: South Africa’s first democratically
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also refers to Lead Like Jesus – Lessons elected President, Nelson Mandela, c
from the Greatest Leadership Model and then also Walter Sisulu and Oliver
o
of All Time (a book by Ken Blanchard Tambo, all men known for their wisdom
and Phil Hodges) when he argues that and humility.
n
leadership can be defined in simple Sisulu is known to have influenced
terms as a process of influence. Mandela, particularly in his formative
Anytime you seek to influence the thinking, behaviour
or development of people in their personal or
professional lives, you are taking on the role of a leader
Anytime you seek to influence the years as an ANC youth leader. Mandela
thinking, behaviour or development of is, of course, arguably the world’s
people in their personal or professional biggest living icon and continues to
lives, you are taking on the role of a influence people, not only in South
leader, he warns. You can influence Africa but all over the world in a
people in a number of ways, depending positive way.
on your motivation and goals and the
dynamics of the situation at hand. In Learning on Robben Island
a business context, you should never and beyond...
depart from the basic principles of Motlanthe met both Mandela and
leadership, he says, and having a vision Sisulu on Robben Island, where he
of the desired end result is one of the served 10 years, from 1977 to 1987, for
most important principles. promoting the aims of the ANC, which
35
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