New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern who announced her resignation citing burnout, offered an alternative leadership model rooted in a moral vision rather than political opportunism and rose to become a global hero of liberalism.
✅She is considered a classic example of ethical leadership.
Lessons from the life of Jacinda Ardern:
✅Motherhood is powerful
Jacinda Ardern became the second world leader (After Benazir Bhutto) to ever give birth and subsequently take maternity leave while in office. She said, “I’m just pregnant, not incapacitated”.
🌲Multitasking: The Prime Minister then made history and headlines worldwide when her three-month-old child accompanied her to a United Nations General Assembly in New York City.
✅Keeping calm under pressure
The New Zealand Prime Minister has demonstrated her ability to stay cool numerous times throughout the coronavirus pandemic, but it was her response to a 5.8 magnitude earthquake that set the tone for her approach to a crisis. During a live television broadcast, the parliament building she was in was hit with a mammoth natural disaster.
🌲Her ability to immediately gather her thoughts and address a crisis can be a learning lesson for all of us.
✅Act swiftly, decisively and do not downplay situations
Her decisiveness during the COVID-19 pandemic had a huge impact on how the country handled the crisis and the measures she implemented.
Not once did she attempt to downplay the severity of the crisis. Instead, she offered facts, educated herself on the data, and made tough choices that would ultimately allow New Zealand to handle the pandemic astutely and save many live
✅Responsible leadership: The PM, along with her ministers took a pay cut of 20% for 6 months during the pandemic. In her own statement – “While it in itself won’t shift the government’s overall fiscal position, it is about leadership”.
✅Emotional intelligence
During the pandemic, Prime Minister Ardern showed her humane side and fostered the public’s trust by acknowledging the emotional aspect brought on by the crisis.
✅She even went so far as to reassure children that the Easter Bunny was classified as a key worker and would be able to do their Easter rounds as always. While this may seem like a small gesture, the fact that she incorporated such an emotional response into her address showed her humanity and her relatability.
✅Effective Communication: The underrated value of listening and asking
Ardern used regular Facebook Live sessions to check in with citizens during their relatively brief time in lockdown.
🌲In an incredibly informal, chatty manner, she effortlessly demonstrated consideration and empathy, whilst also delivering some tough messages, and providing clear direction to mobilize effort.
To support citizens through lockdown, Ardern also conducted a series of video interviews in which she conversed with experts, including a psychologist about coping with the stresses of the pandemic, and an experienced business mentor about supporting small businesses.
✅Strength and solidarity are key
In March 2019, Jacinda Ardern responded to a series of terrorist attacks on mosques in Christchurch with an approach that supported the people of New Zealand and quickly banned military-style assault weapons in the country. The leader refused to name the shooter in order to avoid giving him notoriety and assisted in uniting not only the people of Christchurch but New Zealand as a whole.
🌲Ms Ardern wore a hijab and went to mourn with the grieving families. By keeping the focus on the victims rather than the perpetrator, she brought a healing touch to an otherwise tense, polarising moment.
✅Inclusivity
She appointed Nanaia Mahuta, a Maori woman, in the high-profile portfolio of foreign ministers, while her party vowed that schools in the country would have the Māori language integrated into their curriculum by 2025.