The leaving of a legacy

It’s hard not to see all the tributes made to Jacinda Ardern this week as she gracefully retired as PM of NZ, letting the world know she “no longer has enough in the tank” to continue. In her political career, she leaves behind a leadership legacy. One we can all draw inspiration from.

For me, it’s her poise, her confidence, and her dogmatic attitude to living her values that are the standouts. Her strength shines through in her refusal to conform to what “power” and “influence” are traditionally defined as, particularly in the political sector. She showed us how these two concepts can sit right beside that of "kindness".

As someone who advocates for gender empowerment and supports senior leaders in this through the lens of what Elizabeth Lesser calls “innervism” (looking after our insides so we advocate on the outside without becoming that which we are advocating against!), here are the three lessons I take away from Jacinda Ardern's leadership legacy.

1.  Self-awareness is key in making a difference. There are so many great things we can learn about leadership and what it means to be a “heart-centred” leader, an “authentic” leader and the like. But the answers don’t lie in the intellectual pursuit of these qualities; they lie in our ability to embody them, to become them. We do this intentionally. By understanding who we are, what makes us tick and what gets in the way of showing up in all our glorious ways. The pursuit of self-awareness is not for the faint-hearted, but it is for the big-hearted.
2.  Burnout is real, and we need to look after ourselves. The mental and physical load on women to keep it all together at home and at work while breaking down barriers, smashing glass ceilings, and stepping onto glass cliffs is real. No one is immune to the pressure of modern-day living. A recent article in Forbes on burnout amongst working women shows that this problem is escalating. As women, we belong in our bodies. We are cyclical, multidimensional, intuitive, and wise by nature. We need homes and workplaces that allow us to be all these things. We need to give ourselves permission to connect, rest, rejuvenate and ask for these things out loud when we need them. After all, we can’t pour from an empty cup.
3. Confidence comes from self-trust and an unwavering commitment to our values.

Our values are our moral compass. They are what keep us on OUR ”right” side of the track. When we are clear about what is most important to us at our core, hard decisions can be made more easily because we trust ourselves to act authentically and with integrity. Too often, we get caught up in other people’s values and don’t say or do things in true alignment with who we are and how we want to be in the world. However, each time we do act with our values front and centre, we deepen our sense of trust and belief in ourselves. It’s from this place of self-trust that we can step out of the mould and confidently role model a different style of leadership. And when we do that, we give others the green light to do the same.

I’d love to know the lessons you’ve taken from Jacinda Ardern's leadership style. Let me know in the comments below.