Invictus: Leader's of Change

After watching Invictus the major bell that went off was that all people want to be a part of something meaningful and significant but often need help in bringing it out.  We all want to be a part of change but to be truly passionate we need it to come out in our own way rather than being told how we should contribute.  Invictus demonstrates how society’s leaders can bring the best out of us using their enlightened understanding of the community.  In this movie the use of a national rugby team to bring about unified pride gave South Africans a chance to unite from a common starting point rather than beating the drum of forced acceptance that had been the strategy to this point.  The movie highlights two major leaders in Mandela and François Pienaar, but shows that great leaders create a sense of leadership in all of us.  This is especially the case for Mandela who recognized change had to come from inclusion through true buy-in by individuals.  Everyone wants to be a part of something but in their own way and on their own terms.

Mandela saw a rallying point for a country through a struggling team.  The team represented the country in that it was an underdog in need of belief and inspiration.  He recognized that support for a national team provides for common inspiration amongst the community.  If you are committed to the cause it is because you see the value in your commitment.  As a great leader Mandela made the rugby team about South Africa itself.  He included the traditionalists by supporting the name and colors while inviting the new majority to support what is pure and not what has always been seen as the enemy.  He also saw the opportunity of time, a year to build support and allow people to attach themselves in their own way.   Supporting trips to community’s by the team and developing the understanding and commitment by the team itself to a bigger cause are two obvious examples.  His recognition of François Pienaar as a leader is also Mandela’s strength in developing a community.  You can guide and lead but without quality leaders following then the message does not hit everyone.  Ideally you want leaders at all levels of the community and Pienaar is a hardworking traditional South African that bought into the strength of what his team could do for the community.  A respected leader that leads by example and that others want to follow.  He bought in on his terms through his passion for rugby and a personal revelation, very strong buy-in indeed.  Leadership at all levels in the community could even be extended to the cops allowing the street kid to sit on their car and listen to the final match. 

In the end the foresight of Mandela to see that a community with so many differences could unite through a common passion is an excellent guide to future community development.  Give people a chance to start from a common position and allow them to claim their own piece of the action!!