Leading with Authenticity Insights from Former New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern

What is leadership? 

“To me, leadership is not about necessarily being the loudest in the room, but instead being the bridge, or the thing that is missing in the discussion and trying to build a consensus from there.”

Source: Newshub

Not “aggressive” enough?

“One of the criticisms I've faced over the years is that I'm not aggressive enough or assertive enough, or maybe somehow, because I'm empathetic, it means I'm weak. I totally rebel against that. I refuse to believe that you cannot be both compassionate and strong.”

— The New York Times

Handling self-doubt

“There are ways to turn self-doubt into a positive, constructive thing. It makes you work harder. It makes you ensure that you are always well prepared and one step ahead of everyone else. It is just about making sure it doesn’t tip over into a space where you are too hard on yourself.”

Sources:

Newshub, “Mother's Day: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on motherhood influencing leadership” written by Jamie Ensor

The New York Times, “Lady of the Rings: Jacinda Rules” written by Maureen Dowd

Forbes, “Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand Prime Minister's Message To Women: Be Yourself, It's Good Enough” written by Michelle Penelope King