More Justins in the kitchen
Maybe reality is being so cruel that I need to believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I am so bored of grey politicians who shelter behind military officials and police commanders, I am bored of messages that hide lies, tired of being interpellated as a child who has not thinking autonomy, being told we are in a war that, as a result, I have been seduced by something which is the complete opposite.
The opposite came days ago in the form of several official statements Justin Trudeau, Canada’s prime minister since 2015, offered Canadians on the topic of COVID19. I am not an expert on Canadian politics and my knowledge of Mr. Justin Trudeau’s political measures includes only the most popular ones: gender equality, recreational cannabis, refugees’ acceptance, and even the blackface crisis… I also know that he likes to wear very funny socks…
But I can see a good speech from far away. Take a look to that merveille.
Less than a three minutes speech was enough to send a clear message. He showed he cared about his fellow Canadians and that he could understand their worries and immediately announced measures to protect people and the economy. His relaxed body language, his confident gaze and his use of everyday words made us all believe that Canada was going to take care of its citizens. Maybe, when a Government is to invest the 3% of the country’s economy to help people (and the country) not collapse, it has no need to struggle for a great speech. The speech comes alone, yes… But it also takes a good communication team and a good speaker to deliver a great speech.
Here, in Spain, president Pedro Sánchez delivered a 40-minute long speech full of grandiloquent words, an overacted “sad face” and any measure to explain. “We are going to die”, I thought. So absurd was it, that another presidential speech was necessary the next day in order to clear up all the confusion and explain something else.
The first prime minister of the Instagram age
Since his arrival into politics, Justin Trudeau has shown youth and approachability, through the new trends in visual political communication. A new way of doing things was inaugurated in Canada. Journalist Andrew Gee described Trudeau well in an article written for The Globe and Mail: “His looks and physical fitness make him photogenic, but so does his awareness of the camera, and his comfort in front of it”.
Gee adds that “due to the explosion of social media and the retrenchment of the traditional press, politicians have more power than ever to communicate with voters directly. (…) Mr. Trudeau has used that power, and that technology, to the hilt. He is the first prime minister of the Instagram age”.
This “prime minister of the Instagram age” has been appearing daily to comment on COVID19 crisis. His critics argue that he is too present and that it is unnecessary to appear on tv or to post on social media only to advise people to wash their hands. Perhaps… But he instils so much assurance in people that the overexposure is worth it, and it will make his figure as a leader stronger.
One of the statements that impressed me the most, was when Trudeau broadcasted from his kitchen. Being quarantined because his wife was tested positive to coronavirus, he addressed the nation showing how white and neat his kitchen was. Can you imagine this happening in Spain???? Not in a million years!
You know what? I really believe we need more Justins in the kitchen. At least at a communication level. And this not only goes for politicians, it also applies to CEO’s and celebrities. To everyone in the public eye. We need real leaders, using everyday language, treating us as informed adults. Or even as informed children…
We need human leaders, leaders that act more and talk less. COVID19 has changed everything, those (entrepreneurs, companies, institutions…) who will adapt rapidly will survive and those who cannot, will die. The same goes for communication. Those who can communicate fast and real, will win. The others -won’t die- but they will put themselves in very embarrassing situations.
