Identifying characteristics and qualities of effective leaders

Leadership

Identify a leader has had a major impact on society.

At present, former Senator George Mitchell is most famous for chairing the current hearings on the use of performance-enhancing drugs in American baseball. But the reason Mitchell is so respected by his colleagues in the senate is because during the 1990s, he did what seemed impossible. Mitchell brokered a successful peace agreement between rival Protestant and Catholic factions in Northern Ireland, in what cumulated in the now-historic Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

Before, the conflict in the region was considered intractable. Northern Ireland was in a constant state of tension, as rivalries simmered between Catholic Sein Fein and the Protestant Ulster Unionists. All of Great Britain lived in fear that Irish terrorist factions like the IRA (Irish Republican Army, the military faction of the Sein Fein) would strike within its borders. As a result of Mitchell's efforts to create peace, not only can ordinary Irish men and women live in an environment without fear, but Ireland is also enjoying a state of greater prosperity, given that it is no longer afflicted by political tensions. The Good Friday Agreement is seen evidence that all the world's "apparently unsolvable conflicts" such as the conflict that exists between the Israelis and the Palestinians, can have solutions and that terrorism can come to an end through negotiations as well as through bloodshed and war ("George Mitchell," Understanding Northern Ireland: BBC News, 2008).

What characteristics did this leader have that contributed to his or her effectiveness?

Mitchell stumbled into his role as historic peacemaker and broker. He first came to Northern Ireland as part of the Clinton Administration's efforts to improve the Irish economy. However, Mitchell quickly realized that little economic improvement was possible until the threat of attack from paramilitary weapons was removed. He knew no one would want to invest in Ireland if there was a constant threat of IRA bombs putting the property and lives of other nationalities at risk. Also, ordinary Irish people were unable to effectively use any infusions of economic aid, if they were constantly worried about their day-to-day survival.

Mitchell admits he was naive about the level of hatred that existed between Protestants and Catholics, during the early parts of the peace talks that ensued. But to a certain extent his distanced perspective, his hope and optimism, and also his willingness to listen to the grievances of both sides is what made him such a historically great peacemaker ("George Mitchell," Understanding Northern Ireland: BBC News, 2008). He refused to take 'no' for an answer, when people said that no compromise was possible.

Patience is one of Mitchell's most notable qualities, even though at the time some of his critics said "he gave too much latitude to participants in the talks who were over-fond of their own opinions" ("George Mitchell," Understanding Northern Ireland: BBC News, 2008). But without such unfailing patience, the final peace settlement could never have occurred. The final talks that cumulated in a politically inclusive agreement, the establishment of a chief executive agreeable to both parties, and the agreement of all paramilitary groups to hand over their weapons took thirty-six hours of nonstop talks ("George Mitchell," Understanding Northern Ireland: BBC News, 2008).