The Uniqueness of Leadership

This 27 October 2012, South Africans remembered one of the greatest leaders this nation has produced, Oliver Reginald (OR) Tambo, on what would have been his 95^th birthday. This great person, who walked the long journey to freedom with his friend, comrade and partner in a law firm, Nelson Mandela, was celebrated for his sacrifice and leadership. I was fortunate to also witness one of the tributes our country gave to this great person, when our Deputy President officially declared his final resting place, and that of his wife Adelaide, a national monument. It was in this moving ceremony where I also got a moment to reflect on the meaning of OR Tambo’s leadership lessons.

There have been many things written about OR Tambo especially by those who knew him personally. I would not want to be like an expert on “OR”’s leadership characteristics. What struck me the most, however, was that no one has said that OR Tambo was like this or other person. “OR” acted out his leadership in the OR Tambo way. The second notable thing for me was that “OR” displayed his leadership character over a long period. He was tested at different moments and situations in the liberation struggle, in which there must have been moments of despair, as well as those of great excitement. Those who know him had the benefit of observing his character and leadership through these various moments. They noted the consistency he displayed over these varied moments and points in history, where he had a record of service to the struggle for liberation that exceeded fifty years.

Many of us aspire to for leadership in one way or the other, in the context of whatever our life situation is. I would argue strongly that one of the drawbacks is that we try to imitate someone else, whereas the leadership challenge requires of us to show who we are and what is unique about us. It is this uniqueness that differentiates a person. Otherwise what reason would others have to either choose a person as a leader or give them leadership responsibilities? In the case of “OR”, all he did was to show who he was and allowed others to experience it so that over time many would see the value he would add. Importantly, he never rushed to grab the limelight, but his unique being enabled others to see and appreciate him. And they found it easy to entrust him with the most serious responsibilities.

In seeking to reflect our uniqueness, we also need to appreciate that it has to show itself over many different situations. It cannot be a flash in the pan-type of experience, where a single moment can become a defining one for a person’s leadership character. Whilst there may be moments of great significance, it is clear that we should seek to apply our leadership traits over many different situations and times, for us to have a full appreciation of who we are and how uniquely we reflect this. Consistency of action in practicing our craft, regardless of the career path we have chosen, is a useful lesson of the OR Tambo experience for me.

The life that “OR” led makes this very complex exercise of reflecting the Uniqueness of Leadership look very simple. It provides very useful lessons from the life of a great person.