Masterclass in Crisis Leadership
What it’s like to make decisions on which the lives of tens of thousands of other people depend on you. If you get things wrong, or delay deciding, they die. These decisions affect the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people, resulting in huge economic disruption, mass layoffs and business closures.
Imagine turning those decisions into effective action depends on winning the support of millions of people.
It all starts with 3 important effective leadership communication.
- “direction-giving”
- “meaning-making”
- “empathy”
These 3 key things all leaders must address to motivate followers to give their best.
This is where the brilliant, decisive and humane leadership of New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is giving most Western politicians a masterclass in crisis leadership.
In directing New Zealanders to “stay home to save lives”, PM Ardern simultaneously offers meaning and purpose to what was asked from people.
In freely acknowledging the challenges faced in staying home — from disrupted family and work lives, to people unable to attend loved ones’ funerals — she shows empathy about what is being asked of people. She has regulated distress by developing a transparent framework for decision-making — allowing people to make sense of what is happening and why.
“We came together as a country, in part because we believed in our political and health experts to deliver and they did”
“Simple, clear health messages, communicated with kindness and empathy, resonate with people, even when they are demanding tough changes.”
“The most decisive and strongest lockdown in the world at the moment”
“When political will backs science, we save lives”
New Zealand has only 1,556 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 22 deaths. NEW ZEALAND DECLARED ITSELF COVID-FREE the week of June 8th 2020.
Now compare that to the leadership (or call it incompetence) of Donald Trump, Jair Bolsonaro, Narendra Modi. So called Heads of State of Top3 countries in COVID-19 stats.
Misinformation, Misdirection, Misdemeanor, Denial, Corruption, Lies, Apathy and many more…
New Zealand is “a huge standout as the only Western country that’s got an elimination goal” for COVID-19.
