Leading people through the pandemic is clearly no easy task. But does the criticism currently directed at New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern reveal a major misstep on her part, or something deeper about the nature of leadership itself?
Ardern has previously won widespread praise for her COVID-19 response and crisis communication, topping Fortune magazines worlds greatest leaders list in 2021.
Focused on minimising harm to both lives and livelihoods, her pandemic leadership has comprised three main strands: reliance on expert advice, mobilising collective effort and cushioning the pandemics disruptive effects.
These built the trust needed to secure high levels of voluntary compliance for measures designed to limit the spread of the virus.
Then came the Delta outbreak in mid-August, which sees Auckland still under lockdown measures nearly eight weeks later. Despite the efforts of many, elimination proved elusive a daunting reality that Ardern and her cabinet colleagues appear to have accepted.
This shift by Ardern, who engages deeply with the scientific evidence, has confused and angered many, even those who normally support her.
With vaccination rates climbing, in early October, Ardern announced the beginning of a gradual transition away from the established zero COVID strategy in favour of suppression of inevitable outbreaks.
Read more: Three reasons why Jacinda Ardern's coronavirus response has been a masterclass in crisis leadership
This included a three-step roadmap to guide Auckland carefully towards reduced restrictions. What criteria will be used to trigger movement through those steps, however, have not been specified.
Both the strategic shift and the roadmaps ambiguity have become the source of heated debate. But beyond merely choosing sides, how can we make sense of Arderns leadership at this point?
The pandemic presents a particular type of problem for political leaders, described as wicked or adaptive by leadership experts Keith Grint and Ronald Heifetz, respectively.
Basically, wicked or adaptive problems have complex and contentious causes, generating equally complex and contentious responses.
Their wickedness isnt fundamentally a question of morality, although they do typically entail making values-based choices. Rather, it refers to how difficult they are to contend with. Poverty, the housing crisis and climate change are other good examples of these kinds of problems.
Wicked/adaptive problems dont have clear boundaries, nor are they static. They have multiple dynamic dimensions. Their effects typically spill out into many parts of our lives and organisations, creating confusion, harmful consequences and disruption to established routines.
To make matters worse, there simply arent tried and trusted solutions that can resolve or dissolve such problems. Instead, they require leaders to accustom people to uncomfortable and disruptive changes to established ways of thinking and acting.
Unsurprisingly, many leaders avoid facing up to such difficulties, requiring as it does the cobbling together of a range of imperfect responses to ever-changing circumstances. It requires constant engagement, mobilising people to help craft a way forward.
Read more: Anniversary of a landslide: new research reveals what really swung New Zealand's 2020 'COVID election'
Leaders cant and dont have all the answers to such problems. Whatever answers they do have likely need to keep changing as things unfold. The best possible scenario is what Grint calls a clumsy solution a patchwork of adaptive initiatives that blunt the problems worst effects.
Only genuinely transformative change can truly overcome these wicked or adaptive problems in the long run.
In the meantime, clumsy leadership will typically trigger conflict between leaders and citizens (or employees in a work setting), and among those people too. There will be blame, recrimination, avoidance, denial, grief, what ifs and if onlys, as people struggle to deal with the changes needed.
Indeed, all these very normal responses have characterised much of the commentary about the Ardern governments decision to change tack.
That criticism, however, doesnt mean she has failed in her leadership responsibilities. Instead, she has required the population to face up to an adaptive challenge. Its unavoidably contentious and painful.
Read more: Phased border reopening, faster vaccination, be ready for Delta: Jacinda Ardern lays out NZ's COVID roadmap
For all that we can debate whether different decisions could or should have been made, the difficulties involved in facing the new reality are unavoidable.
To help people navigate this, Ardern is seeking to regulate distress, as Heifetz recommends. She has repeatedly assured people a cautious approach remains in place and has appeared not to have been distracted by the criticism.
Instead, she has stayed focused on mobilising the individual and collective effort to follow the rules and get vaccinated.
Read more: The COVID-zero strategy may be past its use-by date, but New Zealand still has a vaccination advantage
Wicked/adaptive problems are not amenable to resolution by way of quick, easy or elegant answers. They arent fixed by recourse to command and control, although some top-down decisions are needed.
They entail ambiguity and uncertainty, a constant piecing together of efforts to outflank, mitigate or adapt, giving rise to inevitably imperfect or clumsy solutions.
Asking people to adjust to efforts to achieve the least-worst outcome possible from a range of unpalatable options may not be the easiest path to political popularity. But it is arguably what responsible leaders do.
Original post:
- Jacinda Ardern to marry Clarke Gayford this month - reports - 1News - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- Inspirational Quotes: Judy Garland, Jacinda Ardern And Others - Investor's Business Daily - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- Former PM Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford to marry this month - New Zealand Herald - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- Aupito reveals the reservations he helped PM overcome for raids ... - RNZ - August 30th, 2023 [August 30th, 2023]
- AIR New Zealand: Jewish views on NZ's bruising election battle ... - Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council - August 30th, 2023 [August 30th, 2023]
- Wellingtons strategic recalibration for a changing South Pacific region - Observer Research Foundation - August 30th, 2023 [August 30th, 2023]
- Election 2023: Why the non-voter will lead to Labours worst defeat ... - New Zealand Herald - August 30th, 2023 [August 30th, 2023]
- Aussies are after our New Zealand Fashion Week designs - New Zealand Herald - August 30th, 2023 [August 30th, 2023]
- Election 2023: Green MPs Jan Logie, Eugenie Sage and Labours ... - New Zealand Herald - August 30th, 2023 [August 30th, 2023]
- Jacinda Ardern to join Harvard University as dual fellow - BBC - April 30th, 2023 [April 30th, 2023]
- Jacinda Ardern takes up leadership and online extremism roles at Harvard - The Guardian - April 30th, 2023 [April 30th, 2023]
- Ex-New Zealand leader Jacinda Ardern appointed to several Harvard fellowships - NPR - April 30th, 2023 [April 30th, 2023]
- Ex-New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to join Harvard - ABC News - April 30th, 2023 [April 30th, 2023]
- Ex-New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to join Harvard - The Associated Press - April 30th, 2023 [April 30th, 2023]
- Jacinda Ardern And The Power Of Academia In Tackling Societys Greatest Challenges - Forbes - April 30th, 2023 [April 30th, 2023]
- Green Party wants Government to crack on with Jacinda Ardern-era promise to ban new mines on conservation land - Newshub - April 30th, 2023 [April 30th, 2023]
- Fran O'Sullivan: Jacinda Ardern's Australian campaign delivers for ... - New Zealand Herald - April 23rd, 2023 [April 23rd, 2023]
- National candidate shared a poem likening Jacinda Ardern to Adolf ... - RNZ - April 23rd, 2023 [April 23rd, 2023]
- Potential for violence if Ardern had talked to Parliament protesters ... - Stuff - April 23rd, 2023 [April 23rd, 2023]
- Letters: Live animal exports, Beauden Barrett and NZ ... - New Zealand Herald - April 23rd, 2023 [April 23rd, 2023]
- Purged, punted and pruned: the Chris Hipkins reprioritisation in full - The Spinoff - April 23rd, 2023 [April 23rd, 2023]
- Meet This Year's ASUCI Presidential Candidates | New University ... - New University - April 23rd, 2023 [April 23rd, 2023]
- Why New Zealand's Prime Minister Is Heading to Brisbane Not ... - The Diplomat - April 23rd, 2023 [April 23rd, 2023]
- Why Labour is starting to look a little grubby - Stuff - April 23rd, 2023 [April 23rd, 2023]
- Liam Dann: Is this the biggest policy U-turn in NZ history? - New Zealand Herald - April 23rd, 2023 [April 23rd, 2023]
- 'Dear would-be candidate, do you pinky-promise that you are telling ... - Stuff - April 23rd, 2023 [April 23rd, 2023]
- Oscar Sims wins Labour candidacy for Auckland Central, seeks to ... - The Spinoff - April 23rd, 2023 [April 23rd, 2023]
- Inflation in the real world is a greater burden on middle and low ... - Stuff - April 23rd, 2023 [April 23rd, 2023]
- Labour's Three Waters Refresh Is A Tragi-comedy | Scoop News - Scoop - April 23rd, 2023 [April 23rd, 2023]
- New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern takes on a new role after leaving ... - NPR - April 19th, 2023 [April 19th, 2023]
- Jacinda Ardern resigns as prime minister of New Zealand - April 19th, 2023 [April 19th, 2023]
- Jacinda Ardern distances herself from the Sussexes in disclaimer statement about Netflix documentary - The Telegraph - December 23rd, 2022 [December 23rd, 2022]
- Jacinda Ardern auctions off arrogant prick comment to raise money for prostate cancer charity - The Guardian - December 16th, 2022 [December 16th, 2022]
- Grant Robertson, Nicola Willis to be the main focus of election 2023 instead of Jacinda Ardern, Christopher Luxon - commentator - Newshub - December 16th, 2022 [December 16th, 2022]
- Jacinda Ardern fires back at suggestion she met with Sanna Marin ... - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Jacinda Ardern dealt major blow as National support surges ahead of New ... - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Jacinda Ardern's 2023 Election Prospects Dim as New Zealand Recession Looms - Bloomberg - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Ukraine invasion: Jacinda Ardern rejects 'Russian disinformation' claiming New Zealand pledged allegiance to the Nazis - Newshub - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Jacinda Ardern doesn't apologise over MIQ lottery system as documents reveal Govt considered imprisoning Kiwis who used loophole - Newshub - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Faces an Uphill Battle to Win a Third Term Next ... - Latest - LatestLY - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- New Zealands Jacinda Ardern at the U.N.: Disinformation Should Be ... - November 1st, 2022 [November 1st, 2022]
- Jacinda Ardern and the woke war on free speech - spiked - November 1st, 2022 [November 1st, 2022]
- Jacinda Ardern urges Musk to stick to transparency amid extremism fears - The Guardian - November 1st, 2022 [November 1st, 2022]
- Free Speech, Jacinda Ardern and the Tyranny of Kindness - October 28th, 2022 [October 28th, 2022]
- Woman arrested after attack on Jacinda Arderns office in Auckland - The Guardian - October 28th, 2022 [October 28th, 2022]
- Ardern expects King Charles to remain politically neutral - New Zealand Herald - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Jacinda Ardern to travel to New York for UN meeting later this month - New Zealand Herald - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Jacinda Ardern is losing support in NZ, but can the PM's international star power save her? - ABC News - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- 'She was extraordinary,' says New Zealand PM Ardern as the world mourns the Queen - Yahoo News - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Heather du Plessis-Allan: Jacinda Ardern and Chris Hipkins owe the people of Northland an apology - Newstalk ZB - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Strengths on show in PM's visit to South - Otago Daily Times - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Prime Minister remembers meeting with the Queen, speaks highly of King Charles - Newstalk ZB - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- New Zealands period of mourning for the Queen, and what comes next - The Guardian - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- 'She defined an era': Leaders including Biden, Putin and Macron pay tribute to the Queen - Sky News - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Jacinda Arderns iron grip on New Zealands Labour party is slipping and that means trouble - The Guardian - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Costco: Prime Minister tours West Auckland megastore, opening date to be announced in coming weeks - New Zealand Herald - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Jacinda Ardern says co-governance is key to upholding Treaty of Waitangi obligations - Newshub - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- People less willing to comply with Covid-19 rules, or listen to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern according to Government survey - New Zealand Herald - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Three Tory cheers for the apocalypse after Liz Trusss nuclear pledge - The Guardian - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Countdown profit falls, but company and Consumer NZ at odds over 'why' - Stuff - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Samoa travel: Why Taumeasina Island Resort is a relaxed haven in the island's capital - New Zealand Herald - August 25th, 2022 [August 25th, 2022]
- Jacinda Ardern Strikes a Softer Tone on China - The Diplomat - August 2nd, 2022 [August 2nd, 2022]
- Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern admits some people overseas will receive the cost of living payment - RNZ - August 2nd, 2022 [August 2nd, 2022]
- Which polling is that?: Jacinda Ardern confident despite bumps - Sydney Morning Herald - August 2nd, 2022 [August 2nd, 2022]
- PM Jacinda Ardern on TVNZ resignation and recruitment - New Zealand Herald - August 2nd, 2022 [August 2nd, 2022]
- Who will replace Ardern? Whispers begin about next Labour leader - New Zealand Herald - August 2nd, 2022 [August 2nd, 2022]
- Aotearoa to mark first anniversary of dawn raids apology - RNZ - August 2nd, 2022 [August 2nd, 2022]
- NAIT will play key role in FMD response - Rural News Group - August 2nd, 2022 [August 2nd, 2022]
- Did New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern Once Say, 'Unless You Hear It from Us, It Is Not the Truth'? - Snopes.com - July 27th, 2022 [July 27th, 2022]
- Who will replace Jacinda Ardern? Audrey Young: Whispers begin about the next Labour leader contest - New Zealand Herald - July 27th, 2022 [July 27th, 2022]
- Covid-19 Omicron: PM Jacinda Ardern guarded on relaxing restrictions ahead of August check-in - New Zealand Herald - July 27th, 2022 [July 27th, 2022]
- Three Waters: Jacinda Ardern's governance message greeted with scepticism by southern leaders - New Zealand Herald - July 27th, 2022 [July 27th, 2022]
- PM Jacinda Ardern says schools don't have to punish students who won't wear masks but they can choose to - Newshub - July 27th, 2022 [July 27th, 2022]
- On the Tiles: What politicians have accomplished now that they can travel - New Zealand Herald - July 27th, 2022 [July 27th, 2022]
- The Taranaki businesswoman promoting their firms to Australia - Stuff - July 27th, 2022 [July 27th, 2022]
- Pacific news and sport in brief for July 27 - RNZ - July 27th, 2022 [July 27th, 2022]
- Taranaki students being heard in the house during youth parliament week - Stuff - July 27th, 2022 [July 27th, 2022]
- New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern Talks Gun Control on Late Show The ... - July 13th, 2022 [July 13th, 2022]
- New Zealand got it wrong: The man vying to topple Jacinda Ardern and open up the nation - Sydney Morning Herald - July 13th, 2022 [July 13th, 2022]
- Jacinda Ardern is paying the price for her hermit zero-Covid economy - The Telegraph - July 13th, 2022 [July 13th, 2022]