What made Ardern such an inspiring leader?

Recently, to the surprise of many, Jacinda Ardern announced her retirement as Prime Minister of New Zealand. This marks the end of a remarkable leadership after six years.

Ardern led the country through turbulent times: the Corona crisis, attack on a mosque in Christchurch, economic struggles. Her social democratic policies are not uncontroversial at home, at the same time she is seen by many as a breath of fresh air. A welcome and contemporary counterpoint to the male, calculating and power-hungry leader.

This image was largely shaped by her rock-solid speeches and social media contributions.

What is the secret of her communication and what 3 lessons can we learn from her?

1. Humanity

From the moment she took office, Ardern knew how to translate national policy into the human dimension so that people could identify with it. Notable was the video message in which she talked about the "family package" of $60 a week that every family was going to receive to meet the primary living needs of their newborns. No abstract numbers and phrases, but a self-recorded video of her at home with baby on her arm. Especially impressive internationally was the genuine joy and familiarity with which she explained her policy.

See the personal message she posted on Facebook here.

2. Sincerity

A problem for many politicians is that people get the feeling that their appearances are a facade. That behind fine words there are other motives. That is not the case for Ardern. She manages to come across as sincere. Because her actions are in line with her words, and because she lets the audience see and feel what is going on inside her. A strong example of this is her farewell speech, in which she said:

• Being prime minister of a country is a heavy responsibility
• I'm going to quit
• Because my tank is empty.
• Politicians are people too.
• And New Zealanders are entitled to someone who can give their all.

An unprecedented frank and vulnerable statement that (at least with me) provokes the thought: how right that she does not cling to power until the bitter end, but hands over her responsibility.

3. Compassion

The final and, in my opinion, most important element is Ardern's empathy and compassion for her fellow man. The most telling example of this is the speech she gave after the attack on a mosque in Christchurch in which 51 people lost their lives. By addressing the Maori and Muslim communities in their own language and through her inclusion of the words "They are us," she was able to win over the hearts of millions.

We can hear in it the echo of great, historic political and spiritual leaders. And it is this quality in particular that is so sorely missed on the political scene today, where gun-toting and threats prevail. Hopefully, her example will be followed by other leaders. We could use that in these troubled times.

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