Women Leaders in a Coronavirus Crisis and What We Can Learn From Them

Women leaders from around the world have come to the forefront during the coronavirus crisis, as their countries have fared better than nations led by men. We should admire them for this achievement. Although this gives an impression women are superior, and could open the door for misandry, that is not my intention nor where I want to focus. 

Instead, I want to look at one quality that seems to be apparent in all these women leaders whose countries are doing well with the COVID-19 outbreak. And I want to see if we can employ that quality in our own roles of leadership, whatever they might be — heads of companies, leading teams, leadership at home, in church or other places. That quality is empathy.

Before we do, we need to be clear about what empathy really means. 

Leaders with empathy build strong relationships that hold a team together and make it greater than the sum of its parts.

Photo by Janelle Pol

Strengthsfinder explains empathy in the context of leadership roles as:

• Sensing the emotions of those around you. You can feel what they are feeling as though their feelings are your own. Intuitively, you are able to see the world through their eyes and share their perspective.

• You do not necessarily agree with each person's perspective. You do not necessarily feel pity for each person's predicament; that would be sympathy, not empathy.

• You do not necessarily condone the choices each person makes, but you do understand. This instinctive ability to understand is powerful.

• You hear the unvoiced questions. You anticipate the need. Where others grapple for words, you seem to find the right words and the right tone. You help people find the right phrases to express their feelings, both to themselves as well as to others. You help them give voice to their emotional life.

Empathy is “commonly described as the ability to put yourself in another person’s shoes. But making sure you are assessing how they would feel in their shoes, not how you would feel in their shoes. This is the tricky part,” says Forbes.

The ultimate expression of empathy can be seen in Jesus, who relates to everything we go through and gives us an example of how we should treat others. The Bible’s call to empathy is having the ability to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.

HOW WORLD LEADERS MODEL EMPATHY

If empathy is natural for some of us, what about those for whom it is not? We can learn. Let’s take a look at a few current women leaders in this pandemic and discover how we can model empathy.

Angela Merkel, the chancellor of Germany, is a scientist. I’m not sure if an analytical mind and empathy naturally go together. Perhaps they do. But if not,it seems she has learned how to be empathetic from her past experiences. She says:

 “As a 7-year-old child, I saw the Wall being erected. (Merkel grew up in East Germany.) No one—although it was a stark violation of international law—believed at the time that one ought to intervene militarily in order to protect citizens of the GDR and the whole Eastern bloc of the consequences of that, namely to live in lack of freedom for many, many years. And I don’t actually mind. Because I understand this, because it was a realistic assessment that this would not lead to success.” (Emphasis mine.)

And there is Merkel’s empathy: she understands that to limit people’s freedom does not work. Germany has taken in more refugees and asylum seekers than any other country in recent times. This has not always been popular, but Merkel has stood by her decisions. Perhaps these policies are rooted in her own understanding of walls, which most countries have put up. 

Reading an article in Time written by Tsai Ing-wen, the president of Taiwan, I hoped to learn something about this woman. But I discovered nothing about her as an individual. Instead, she praised the power of collaboration, the people around her, and the strength of unity. Team Taiwan — what a beautiful concept — is what has helped Taiwan survive well during the Coronavirus outbreak. It takes a village, says an African proverb popularized by Hillary Clinton. It is a reminder that it’s not about us and whatever we do, but it is a team effort.

And, according to Strengthfinder, leaders with empathy build strong relationships that hold a team together and make it greater than the sum of its parts.

"Global crises,” says Tsai Ing-wen, “test the fabric of the international community, stretching us at the seams and threatening to tear us apart." She writes, "We must set aside our differences and work together for the benefit of humankind."

Then there is Jacinda Ardern, 39 years-old, a new mom, and Prime Minister of New Zealand, where the Coronavirus has been remarkably controlled. Listening to Jacinda is like listening to your best friend give you advice, not the leader of a country. Just watch her videos on Facebook. She models self-isolating like an ordinary person, with her husband unintentionally being seen passing through the room in the background as she addresses her citizens. She chooses her words carefully to help people understand what they must do to stay safe during the pandemic. She says to “stay in your bubble and with those people who are in your bubble.”

The Atlantic describes Arden’s leadership style as “one of empathy in a crisis that tempts people to fend for themselves.” We’ve all experienced this with panic buying. Yet “her messages are clear, consistent, and somehow simultaneously sobering and soothing. And her approach isn’t just resonating with her people on an emotional level. It is also working remarkably well.” 

STEPS FOR BEING AN EMPATHETIC LEADER

So, how do you and I model empathy? Here’s my take on it from the women leaders mentioned above:

1. Look to your past experiences to find understanding and to put yourself in the shoes of the other person.

2. Ask yourself, “Where do I have to set aside differences so I can work together with another person or persons?” Be selective about what you go to the wall for.

3. Don’t see yourself as above or different from the people you are trying to lead. Instead, imagine yourself being in the same boat with them. 

And, from Forbes, here are some additional ways to model empathy as a leader:

1. Invest some time; pause to see an idea or argument from the other person’s point of view. If needed, also take the time to explain why you are not going to follow through on their suggestion. 

2. Think about how the people around you will be affected by your words or actions. More than that, care about the impact of your words or actions on others.

3. Know, if you are short of empathy, that you should go for advice to someone who is more empathetic. Listen and consider what they have to say.

4. Realize your empathy can wax or wane depending on your own situation, physical wellbeing, and mental state. In other words, do not make decisions until you are in a good place.

Empathy, says Forbes and as we have seen, allows you to understand those around you. Then you can make better decisions for everyone involved. You will inspire loyalty. And you will communicate more clearly. This is what we’re seeing from these women leaders during this crisis. Keep watching them closely, and learn.