Jacinda Ardern hopes 'huggers, criers and worriers' can be emboldened as leaders | 7.30

Key Concepts

• Political memoir as a personal reflection on leadership
• Imposter syndrome and confidence gap in leaders
• Empathy and kindness as strengths in politics
• Balancing motherhood and national leadership
• Responding to terrorist attacks with empathy and unity

Main Topics and Key Points

Writing a Personal Memoir

• Motivation: Instead of a traditional political memoir focused on policy successes, the book aims to explore the personal experience of leadership and inspire others, particularly those who doubt their abilities or have lost faith in politics.
• Honesty and Vulnerability: The author deliberately chose to share personal insights, including struggles with self-doubt, to connect with readers and encourage them to consider leadership roles.
• Regret: The author expresses no regret in sharing personal vulnerabilities, believing it's necessary to convince others hesitant about leadership.

Imposter Syndrome and Confidence Gap

• Prevalence: The author acknowledges that imposter syndrome and a confidence gap are common experiences, even among high-achievers.
• Strengths in Weakness: The author argues that these perceived weaknesses can lead to humility, a willingness to seek expert advice, and better decision-making.
• Encouragement: The author encourages individuals experiencing self-doubt not to view it as a barrier to leadership but as a potential strength.
• Decisiveness: The author argues that the preparation and consultation driven by a confidence gap can lead to more decisive leadership.

Empathy and Kindness in Politics

• Re-evaluating Character Traits: The author questions traditional assumptions about the necessary character traits for politicians, advocating for kindness and empathy alongside strength and courage.
• Defining Moment: A colleague's advice to view sensitivity as empathy was a turning point, leading the author to embrace this trait as a strength.
• Voter Expectations: The author believes voters are seeking more kindness and empathy in politics, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Conflict Fatigue: Voters are tired of internal political battles and seek leaders focused on solving problems and serving communities.

Navigating Challenges as a Woman in Politics

• Superficial Criticism: The author was surprised to find that superficial criticisms about appearance had less impact than criticisms about job performance.
• Maternity Leave Question: The author recounts being questioned about her plans to have children shortly after becoming party leader, highlighting the inappropriateness of such questions in the workplace.
• Pregnancy During Leadership: The author describes the decision to keep her pregnancy private initially due to concerns about the pregnancy's viability and potential perceptions of misplaced priorities.
• Morning Sickness During Swearing-In: The author shares the experience of dealing with severe morning sickness during the swearing-in ceremony as Prime Minister.

Balancing Motherhood and Leadership

• Parental Guilt: The author acknowledges the constant parental guilt of not being able to give all their time to their children, regardless of their role.
• Lenience: The author suggests giving oneself more leniency when dealing with parental guilt.
• Subtle Questioning: The author notes that questioning of her abilities as a woman persisted, albeit in more subtle forms, such as concerns about parenting properly while leading.
• Path Carved by Others: The author acknowledges benefiting from the path carved by previous female leaders in New Zealand.

Response to the Christchurch Terrorist Attack

• "They Are Us": The author explains the use of the phrase "they are us" to provide comfort and ensure the Muslim community felt supported by the rest of the country.
• Empathy and Vulnerability: The author suggests that empathy may be linked to personal vulnerabilities and an understanding of others' vulnerabilities.
• Reflection of Wider Sentiment: The author believes the response reflected a wider sentiment in New Zealand of unity and support for the Muslim community.
• Human Response: The author emphasizes that the response was a human one, focused on supporting victims and preventing the terrorist from achieving his goals.
• Refusal to Say the Terrorist's Name: The author highlights the decision to refuse to say the terrorist's name as a way to deny him the attention he sought.

Legacy and Inspiration

• Legacy Determined by Others: The author acknowledges that legacy is ultimately determined by others.
• Inspiration for Future Leaders: The author hopes the book will inspire more "criers, huggers, and warriors" to take up leadership roles.

Notable Quotes

• "My whole short life I'd grappled with the idea that I was never quite good enough that at any moment I would be caught short."
• "We shouldn't wish our politicians to lose their empathy."
• "It matters what you do but it also matters how you do it."
• "Kindness is not a weakness."
• "Just get on with it." - Advice from the Queen regarding morning sickness.

Technical Terms and Concepts

• Political Memoir: A type of autobiography focusing on a person's experiences in politics.
• Imposter Syndrome: A psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their accomplishments and has a persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud.
• Confidence Gap: A disparity between one's perceived abilities and actual abilities, often leading to self-doubt.
• Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
• Show Pony: A derogatory term used to describe someone who is perceived as being more concerned with appearance than substance.

Logical Connections

• The author's personal struggles with self-doubt connect to her advocacy for empathy and kindness in politics.
• The experience of being questioned about maternity plans connects to the broader issue of gender inequality in the workplace.
• The response to the Christchurch terrorist attack is presented as an example of empathy in action and a reflection of New Zealand's values.

Data, Research Findings, or Statistics

• Mention of Melinda French Gates' book and her experience with overpreparing for meetings due to self-doubt.
• Reference to the author being the third female prime minister in New Zealand.
• Mention of the author and Benazir Bhutto being among the few world leaders to have given birth in office.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The interview explores the author's motivations for writing a personal memoir that delves into her experiences with self-doubt, empathy, and the challenges of leadership, particularly as a woman and a mother. The author argues that these perceived weaknesses can be strengths and that kindness and empathy are essential qualities for effective leadership. The interview highlights the importance of challenging traditional assumptions about leadership and creating a more inclusive and compassionate political landscape.