Leadership Reveals Itself in Times of Crisis

As we all navigate these — dare I say it? Has anyone said it yet? — unprecedented times, leadership is more important than ever. Leaders around the world in politics and business are being challenged to navigate this very strange a lá plague period and keep the people who rely on them afloat.

It is easy to be a good leader when things are going well. But when uncertainty seeps in and overtakes our collective psyche, when people are worried and when the economy decides to go skiing down the advanced-skiers-only slope at Thredbo, leadership is tested. In times of crisis, leadership reveals itself: Who is actually demonstrating leadership, and who is just bumbling through with an authoritative business card?

Some examples of great leadership behaviours in this time that I have observed include:

1. Leading as part of the team

Jacinda Ardern has been praised for demonstrating brilliant political leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. One key pattern I have noticed is that Jacinda doesn’t seem to put herself above the masses. This comes through in both small actions and larger decisions.

We have seen her live streaming to the nation from her home when encouraging people not to go out — a show of her dedication to doing the same. We have seen her, in mid-April, announce that she and her government ministers will be taking a 20% pay cut in response to the crisis.