Part A: The Six Ps (301 words).
The first P of leadership is Purpose, which refers to leaders’ goals for their leadership roles: Jacinda Ardern, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, embodied purposeful leadership with her dream of creating a more equitable and compassionate society (Craig, 2021). Her response to the Christchurch terrorist attacks in 2019 illustrated her commitment to kindness, diversity, and unity.
The second P of leadership is People, which refers to the relationship between leaders and followers. Ruth Bader Ginsburg epitomized people-centered leadership, advocating gender equality and human rights (Brinkley, 2019). Her ability to bridge divides was evident in her close friendship with her ideological opposite, Justice Antonin Scalia.
The third P of leadership is Power, which refers to the ability of a leader to influence others and achieve their goals. Angela Merkel, the former Chancellor of Germany, embodied decisive leadership through her ability to negotiate and bring together factions to pass key legislation (Mushaben, 2022). Her management of the European debt crisis and administration on climate change issues illustrate her influence.
The fourth P of leadership is Performance, which refers to a leader’s ability to achieve results and meet their goals. Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, embodied performance-driven leadership by using data-driven decision-making and motivation to achieve goals (Meehl et al., 2020). Her success in building Facebook’s advertising business and advocating for gender equality through “Lean In” demonstrates this leadership style.
The fifth P of leadership is Principles, which refers to a leader’s core values and beliefs. Helen Clark, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, embodied principled leadership by advocating for progressive values, human rights, and social justice (Picard, 2019). She passed landmark legislation on paid parental leave and led the United Nations Development Program.
The sixth P of leadership is Passion, which refers to a leader’s enthusiasm and commitment to their work. Oprah Winfrey embodied passionate leadership through her inspiring work in television, media, and philanthropy (Li, 2021). Her commitment to issues such as education, poverty, and social justice and her leadership academy for girls in South Africa showcased her enthusiasm and dedication.
PART B (395 words).
I choose Purpose; Building a fairer society for all – Jacinda Ardern.
I recall being in the audience when former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern spoke at a local gathering in my area. I was prepared for what she would say because I had anticipated it. I was ready and prepared for what she had to say. Jacinda Ardern spoke about her goals of establishing a more equitable society for all New Zealanders and her leadership advancement throughout her life (Khorana, 2022). Jacinda Ardern started by outlining her encounters in a small New Zealand town, where she encountered injustice and inequity. As she entered the room, her commitment and zeal were evident in her leadership role. Jacinda Ardern narrated how injustice and unfairness motivated her to achieve her leadership goal. She described how she worked hard towards an equal society and encouraged herself to change things for her people.
Jacinda Ardern’s address focused on incentives and regulations her government implemented to have a more equitable and just society. She referred to the Child Poverty Reduction Act and the Wellbeing Budget, underlining the significance of evidence-based policymaking and giving long-term results precedence over immediate advantages. Her ambition for a brighter future for all New Zealanders demonstrated her dedication to her cause (Khorana, 2022). Her emphasis on kindness and empathy in leadership made an impression on me. She remembered how she visited Muslim communities nationwide and spoke with families directly affected during the Christchurch terrorist attacks to express her support and sympathy. Amid the incident, she persisted in her steadfast commitment to creating a society that values diversity and compassion.
As Jacinda Ardern continued with her speech, it became clear that her commitment was to forge a community that valued empathy and compassion equally on a par with successful policymaking (Mercer-Prowse, 2022). She stressed that by cooperating and concentrating on shared values, we can improve the future of all people across the globe. She emphasized that to build a brighter future, we must put cooperation and shared ideals first.
As I exited the event, I felt encouraged and motivated by Jacinda Ardern’s speech. Her zeal and commitment reminded me that leadership is more than simply getting things done. In addition, her speech aimed to raise and improve the standard of living for everyone. Through listening to their speeches, Jacinda Ardern and others inspired me and gave me hope for the future. It also helped to gain some leadership skills.
PART C (458 words).
Critical Analysis.
I was significantly affected by the tale I told in Part B about Jacinda Ardern and her dedication to kindness and empathy in leadership. Reflecting on this incident, I can see how the circumstances, location, and context significantly influenced her leadership style and strategy.
At a time when there was growing hostility and division worldwide, the terrorist attacks in Christchurch were a painful and devastating tragedy for New Zealand. Jacinda Ardern’s dedication to kindness and empathy was critical in handling the attacks (Mercer-Prowse, 2022). She took appropriate action after realizing how crucial it was to aid the Muslim community and the victims’ relatives. Her leadership throughout the disaster was influenced by her awareness of the need to demonstrate compassion and offer support in times of adversity.
The importance of leaders being sensitive to the feelings and needs of their communities is illustrated by Ardern’s actions. She exemplified how leaders may utilize their positions of influence to have a good impact by being willing to reach out and establish connections with those impacted by the assaults. I am reminded of the ability of leadership to effect positive change as I reflect on this incident. People can be inspired and motivated to band together and work towards a shared goal by leaders like Ardern (Khorana, 2022). However, I am also conscious of today’s leaders’ difficulties in our quick-paced and complex world. There are moments when social media demands, the 24-hour news cycle, and the drive for immediate results can make leaders less compassionate and empathic.
Reflecting on this incident, I have also been inspired to think about how Indigenous leadership might advance social justice and transformative change. Jacinda Ardern, a ruler I mentioned in Part B, battled for the restitution of land taken from Mori following the 1860s conflicts. Her dedication to her community and culture is a compelling illustration of Indigenous leadership and the struggle for “place.” (Mercer-Prowse, 2022) The continual battle for Indigenous people to recover their societal position strikes me when I think about the past and today. For instance, the demonstrations in Ihumatao serve as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for Indigenous rights and the significance of having strong, courteous, and compassionate leaders.
In conclusion, considering what happened in Part B has made me realize how crucial leadership is to bring about constructive change. The Power of leadership can effect big change for a long time. Tragic events like the Christchurch terrorist attacks or ongoing social justice movements are handled by leaders with the leadership abilities necessary, like Jacinda Ardern. It is crucial to remember the lessons learned from the past and the ongoing fight for justice and equality as we navigate the present and future issues.
References.
Brinkley, J. L. (2019). Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Examining her path to the high court bench and its intersection with the ACLU. Lincoln Mem’l UL Rev., pp. 6, 1.
Craig, G. (2021). Kindness and control: The political leadership of Jacinda Ardern in the Aotearoa New Zealand COVID-19 media conferences. Journalism and Media, 2(2), 288–304. https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia2020017
Khorana, S. (2022). Jacinda Ardern and the Politics of Leadership Empathy: Towards Emotional Communities of Transformation. In Mediated Emotions of Migration (pp. 32–44). Bristol University Press. https://doi.org/10.51952/9781529218251.ch002
Li, J. (2021). Book review: Women in leadership, contextual dynamics, and boundaries. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350507619837033
Meehl, M., Huntoon, W., & Kalyvaki, M. (2020). Preparing Women for Leadership in IT–What Wins is Doing in Practice and Experience in Advanced Research Computing (pp. 481-483).
Mercer-Prowse, D. (2022). Strength through Kindness: Celebrating the Success of Women Leaders and Feminine Leadership Styles. In Kindness in Management and Organizational Studies (pp. 29–43). Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80262-157-020221003
Mushaben, J. M. (2022). Against all odds: Angela Merkel, Ursula von der Leyen, Anngret Kramp-Karrenbauer, and the German paradox of female CDU leadership. German Politics, 31(1), 20-39. https://doi.org/10.1080/09644008.2021.2000599
Picard, A. (2019). Helen Clark: Blazing trails from domestic to international politics. The Lancet, 393(10175), p. 977. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30440-4