2. Leaders, remember your role is temporary
How can leaders motivate themselves to do great work? One way is to keep reminding themselves that their time in power is limited.
“Nothing focuses the mind more than seeing that our time in leadership is temporary,” she added. “Not only will that get you through the hard times, it focuses your intention on making every day count.”
3. In times of crisis, express compassion and take action
In one of the highlights of her speech, Jacinda talked about her response to the 2019 terrorist attacks that targeted Muslim worshippers at two mosques.
At the time, Jacinda earned praise for the way she demonstrated empathy and support for the Muslim community. In a sign of solidarity and respect, she wore a black hijab when meeting with survivors of the attack and their families. She chose not to name the attacker, so as not to give him the spotlight he sought.
“In moments of tragedy and crisis,” Jacinda said, “if we want to reflect the experience and emotions that our own communities are experiencing, then we must ask ourselves one simple question, ‘How do I feel?’ Are you grieving, sad, angry, or all of those things? If the answer is yes, it’s likely your people will feel the same. Don’t be afraid to express those very same emotions.”
4. Leaders should be clear about what they know — and what they don’t know
How do you maintain the public’s trust during times of crisis?
During the early days of the pandemic, Jacinda closed New Zealand’s borders to foreigners and imposed a nationwide shutdown, actions that vastly reduced the spread of the virus. A recent study estimated that her government’s action ended up saving 20,000 lives.
What she didn’t do is pretend to have all the answers. The reason: Being transparent about what you do and don’t know is critical to building credibility.
5. The most important trait of a great leader: human decency
At the conclusion of her speech, Jacinda offered a simple message. “The most important leadership principles can be found in what we teach our children — empathy, curiosity, bravery, and kindness,” she said.
These basic human principles are no longer expected of our leaders. It’s time to shift gears.
“The things that we have continuously taught our young, we have ceased to demand or expect in our leaders,” Jacinda said. “In some cases, certain traits, especially those that may be conceived as soft, are only expected of women. Let’s change that. Let the traits of decent human beings be the traits of decent leadership.”
