Empowering Leadership: Lessons from Jacinda Ardern's Journey
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Understanding Leadership Through Jacinda Ardern's Lens
In my role as the principal of a remarkable high school, I find immense value in learning from various leaders beyond the educational sector. Educational institutions often become entrenched in traditional practices, so exploring leadership traits from diverse fields can provide fresh insights.
In a society that encourages young girls to aspire for greatness, why not aim for the Prime Minister of a stunning country like New Zealand? This must have been Jacinda Ardern's inspiration when she became the youngest female head of state in history at just 37. Notably, she is the second woman ever to give birth while serving as a world leader, attending the United Nations General Assembly three months after welcoming her child. This action challenged the stereotype that women with young children cannot be effective leaders.
Following her experience as a new mother, leading through national crises, and managing the COVID-19 pandemic, Ardern was re-elected in a landslide victory. This reflects the high regard her nation holds for her transparent and open leadership style, despite any concerns about her youth or motherhood.
What contributes to her success? Research has delved into her communication style during press conferences, her responses during crises, and public perceptions of her leadership. Various articles have also emphasized her strengths, which resonates deeply with me.
She Balances Firmness with Friendliness
A study published in the Journal of Media analyzed Ardern’s communication during the pandemic and found that she maintained a positive and approachable demeanor while being assertive. She often stated, “I am now happy to take your questions” when shifting to the Q&A segment of her briefings. However, when faced with misinformation or misquotes, she promptly corrected them. For instance, during a press exchange:
Media: Can I just return to the topic of the app? So, it sounds like now that’s an optional thing: it’s something you might not even go down the path of—
JA: No, no. Sorry if I haven’t been clear—
Media: Will it be formally considered at some point?
JA: No, no. Forgive me if I haven’t been clear. The app is absolutely part of our work programme, and work is underway, and it will be a feature of New Zealand’s response. What I’ve said is that it won’t be part of the criteria around whether we move or not, and in large part that’s because an app will only ever supplement the work that we have to do for contact tracing.
Rather than attacking the press for inaccuracies, she often expresses regret for any confusion she may have caused, demonstrating a contrast to many leaders who react with frustration during media engagements. She frequently refers to reporters by their first names and injects humor into the conversation.
She Acts with Speed and Certainty
Throughout her tenure, Ardern has encountered numerous emergencies, and her adept handling of these situations has garnered international praise. She has shown decisiveness, often taking swift action on critical issues.
One notable incident was a national tragedy when a gunman attacked a mosque, resulting in the deaths of over 50 individuals. Within six days, she introduced legislation to parliament to ban assault-style weapons, successfully gathering the votes needed to enact this change. Previous attempts to pass similar laws had failed, but her leadership made this the first successful effort. Drawing on her background in public relations, she connected with her citizens, explaining her rationale in a way that fostered unity rather than division.
JA: I can tell you one thing right now. Our gun laws will change. There have been attempts to change our laws in 2005, 2012, and after an inquiry in 2017. Now is the time for change. The time for the mass and easy availability of these weapons must end. And today, they will.
Ardern's leadership style teaches us valuable lessons. Empathy and compassion are essential, but so is being resolute and confident in one’s beliefs. When facing choices, we often grapple with the decision to follow popular opinion or adhere to what is morally right. Ardern consistently aligns her policies with her convictions, earning her a loyal following and respect from global leaders.
Despite facing criticism for not conforming to traditional masculine leadership traits—being perceived as overly emotional or smiling too much—she embraces her authenticity. As leaders, this is a quality we should all aspire to cultivate.
The first video, Boss Levels: Is Jacinda Ardern a Good Leader?, explores her leadership qualities and public perception, providing insights into her effectiveness as a leader.
The second video, Was it worth it? - NZ's Jacinda Ardern on leadership, features Ardern discussing her leadership journey and the challenges she has faced.