Analysis of Jacinda Ardern's Leadership Speech and Impact

This essay provides an analysis of Jacinda Ardern's leadership speech delivered in response to the Christchurch mosque attack. It examines the empathetic and comforting nature of her address, highlighting her ability to connect with the Muslim community and the nation as a whole. The essay focuses on key aspects of her speech, including her use of a black dress to symbolize mourning, her refusal to name the perpetrator, and her decisive actions, such as banning semi-automatic weapons. The analysis also explores her leadership qualities, such as her ability to show solidarity and security to the Muslim community by wearing a hijab. The essay references relevant literature and provides an assessment of Ardern's leadership style, emphasizing her high values and morals. The essay concludes by recognizing her as an inspiration for both women in leadership and motherhood.

Running head: JACINDA ARDERN LEADERSHIP SPEECH
JACINDA ARDERN LEADERSHIP SPEECH
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1
JACINDA ARDERN LEADERSHIP SPEECH
The speech has been articulated by Jacinda Ardern in order to provide both consoling and
comforting effects for the nation’s Muslim Community after the Christchurch mosque attack
(Reicher, Haslam and Van Bavel 2019). The leadership speech is very particular in its form and
it has been delivered with the most empathetic behaviour towards the victims and the survivors.
The delivery of her speech is effective because of her rapid application of practical steps and her
denial for anti-Islamic rhetoric provided a good lesson to other countries to follow. During the
delivery of this speech, she wore a black dress which signifies the mourn and grief she felt for
the people. Her empathetic behaviour and kindness that she showed was a heartfelt affection for
those attack survivors. Her powerful and generous response is liked by the all, as she was sharing
their grief and embracing irrespective of men and woman (Reicher, Haslam and Van Bavel
2019). Her speech was even more effective as she with the black dress she was putting the hijab
in order to share their pain and also refused to take the name of the prime suspect. This
leadership trait is so uncommon and rare an ability to find in a leader and being a woman, it is so
unfamiliar and tough for anyone to do which is why she is an inspiration for all of us.
Most prominently, being the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern
moved ahead than just being empathetic with the survivors, asking them, what the government
can do for them, it is their time to decide and speak (Ghasabeh, Soosay and Reaiche 2015). This
powerful statement captivated the hearts of the audiences. Moreover, a few hours post attack,
Ardern addressed those terrorists in a way with words that exhibits both her dignity and power.
To the captivated audiences, she demanded from the platforms of the technology and
advancements to take the responsibility against the online challenges that the country face
through media on a case to case basis. Her speech was so engaging that the people would like to
be her disciples in order to keep listening to her (Reicher, Haslam and Van Bavel 2019). She

2
JACINDA ARDERN LEADERSHIP SPEECH
declared that the main cause of the mishap is racism and Islamophobia. As an assessment of the
situation, in her speech she said the world is a brutal cycle of extremism and it should have an
end and the nation will remember the tears unless it is resolved. As an immediate action of
assertion and a promise she showed her courage by banning semi-automatic weapons and assault
rifles (Davison 2018). As per the assertions of speech, Ardern proves herself as one of the
leaders who has high values and morals that allows her to be empathetic to think about those
people and their miserable conditions (Fountaine and Comrie 2016). Out of her leadership and
effective speech, in terms of practices, she boldly confronted that if by wearing a hijab and
dressed like a muslim woman, she gave the sense of solidarity and security to the muslim
community, then it might give them the hope and faith of being secured and she is quite happy to
bring that in them and does not even care of what the religions or the media journalists talks
about her. Being young she is not just the epitome of an empowered woman Prime Minister but
also an inspiration for motherhood and a true leader (Davison 2018).

3
JACINDA ARDERN LEADERSHIP SPEECH
Reference
Hoch, J.E., Bommer, W.H., Dulebohn, J.H. and Wu, D., 2018. Do ethical, authentic, and servant
leadership explain variance above and beyond transformational leadership? A meta-
analysis. Journal of Management, 44(2), pp.501-529.
Ghasabeh, M.S., Soosay, C. and Reaiche, C., 2015. The emerging role of transformational
leadership. The Journal of Developing Areas, 49(6), pp.459-467.
Reicher, S., Haslam, A. and Van Bavel, J., 2019. The road to Christchurch: A tale of two
leaderships. Editor’s Introduction, 48(1), p.11.
Fountaine, S. and Comrie, M., 2016. New Zealand Media Coverage of Women and Women
Politicians. Politics and the Media, pp.326-340.
Davison, I., 2018. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern bans oil exploration. New Zealand Herald.

4
JACINDA ARDERN LEADERSHIP SPEECH
Appendix
https://www.theguardian.com/world/201...