Analysis and discussionNelson Mandela was a motivational leader. He used his intelligence and charm to attract the attention of his followers. He became South Africa's first black president in 1994. That's not even the most interesting fact about Mandela in my opinion. He spent 25 years, a quarter of a century in prison. After his release, he would eventually become president. It’s a remarkable achievement and I wonder: how did he do it? How did someone who was sentenced to life become president? His years in prison For much of the 1950s, Mandela was one of 156 defendants in the treason trial. After the Sharpeville massacre on March 21, 1960, the ANC was banned and Mandela, still on trial, was still detained, along with hundreds of others. With the ANC now illegal, Nelson Mandela became the figurehead of this new phase of struggle. Mandela's statement in court during the trial is a classic in the history of the struggle against apartheid and was an inspiration to all. "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all live together in harmony and with equal opportunity. It is a ideal for which I hope to live and to achieve. But if necessary, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die. He was released from prison on February 11, 1990. threw himself wholeheartedly into his life's work, determined to achieve the goals he set for himself almost forty years ago In 1991, at the first national conference of the ANC which was held. in South Africa after being banned, Nelson Mandela was elected president of the ANC His charmPeople say he could charm the birds of...... middle of paper... ...brings people together. towards the common good This is when a leader truly matures, leaves himself behind and leads by getting the best out of others. For Mandela, this allowed him to build relationships with his captors, they could. disagree with him as much as they wanted but no one could question his integrity and his will. Mandela made people feel superior and in doing so he also became a leader. One of his goals in life was to make everyone around him better, and that's exactly what he did. He knew himself and the impact he had on others and he understood what behaviors would help him the most. These are the qualities of a truly great leader. These lessons and skills that Nelson Mandela learned and honed in the humble environment of Robben Island were the same ones he used to influence leaders at the pinnacle of world power..