These are 5 things leaders can learn from Rutte's speech

When Mark Rutte had just become prime minister, I visited him in the Torentje and asked him if things would be different now that he was no longer party leader of the VVD, but prime minister of all the Dutch people. Father of the Fatherland.

Rutte responded soberly as always. "No way, I just have a job and I do it the best I can. If things don't go well, they vote me out. And if it does go well, I get to stay.

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Over the past few years, I have watched with increasing amazement how long Rutte has endured in this role of manager, while garnering respect for his no-nonsense approach.

Since the corona crisis, it seems that he has outgrown the role of manager after all. Last Monday, he addressed the nation through various media outlets to send a message of encouragement and defense of the cabinet's policies. Friend and foe agree that he succeeded. Moreover, Rutte has portrayed himself as a committed leader who rises above the parties.

A crisis speech, I know from my experience as a speechwriter, should contain a number of elements: empathy for those affected, interpretation of the situation in a broader perspective, details that show that you are informed as a leader, a call to action, and if possible a nice one-liner.

Many leaders in the Netherlands will have a difficult message to deliver in the coming period, to employees, stakeholders and also their immediate environment. Hopefully this speech will help them build confidence through their communications and strengthen their leadership.

Here are five things we can learn from Rutte's speech:

1. Be sincere
   Rutte: 'Because I don't have an easy message for you tonight.'
   Not only from his text, but also from the sober presentation, you can tell as a listener that Rutte means business. That he is going all out to fight the corona crisis.
2. Be sincere
   Rutte: 'Because I don't have an easy message for you tonight.'
   Not only from his text, but also from the sober presentation, you can tell as a listener that Rutte is serious. That he is going all out to fight the corona crisis.
3. Be committed
   Rutte: "And I want to address the elderly and those in poor health. I realize that you have great concerns.'
   Rutte shows that he is mindful of people's individual suffering by, among other things, expressing his condolences to the families of the deceased, the elderly, the frail and entrepreneurs.
4. Be concrete
   Rutte: "A lot of entrepreneurs have their backs against the wall. The lady from the coffee shop on the corner, the flower grower, the transport entrepreneur, the self-employed worker, but it also applies to national icons such as KLM.'
   Leadership is also shown by showing that you are up to speed on what is happening and have an eye for (human) details.
5. Be credible
   Rutte: 'It will be a difficult time no matter what, but we won't let you down.'
   Rutte is one of the few politicians who can say this with dry eyes because he has held the economy in high regard from the beginning. He is returning to familiar territory where he has already achieved results.