Editorial: Leadership in a time of crisis

Donald Trump and his government seem to be perpetually at odds with what America needs, while China’s stoic silence - barring the occasional protest against accusations of concealing information - is trademark of Xi Jinping’s leadership style. Boris Johnson, though riding on a wave of sympathy after battling the coronavirus himself, was criticised for not having a succession plan in place. Germany’s Angela Merkel on the other hand, has been praised for her calm handling of the crisis with honesty and a scientific approach to early testing.

Author and Harvard Business School historian Nancy Koehn observed, “Leaders become ‘real’ when they practice a few key behaviours that gird and inspire people through difficult times.” During a crisis, leaders have to take spot decisions based on emerging data, while simultaneously reassuring panicky citizens and persuading them to cooperate with government decisions. To this end, there are some things that all leaders must do - these include clear communication, open and consistent sharing of facts, and quick action. Getting any of these wrong could lead to a trust deficit and cause unrest which will compound the already fragile situation. What counts as definite no-no’s are making light of the situation, a disregard for rules, and showing a lack of empathy for the plight of people who are suffering.

Prime Minister Modi’s recent addresses to the nation have been the topic of many a lively debate. Be it his ‘tasks’ for the nation, his choice of words to even the number of times he folded his hands in an appeal for compliance from countrymen (seven, in his most recent appearance). But there’s no doubt that this new facet of Modi that India is seeing – caring, concerned, almost paternal - has clearly struck a chord with the country’s heart-driven janata. But not all Indian leaders have displayed a soft touch. A couple of weeks ago, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao warned violators that his government would be compelled to issue shoot-at-sight orders if people continued to break rules. Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami was quiet for a few weeks, but when he did break his silence, it was to make a radical observation that ‘coronavirus was brought to the state by the rich’, that too via air travel.

When the going gets tough, people need a leader who is compassionate but clearly in charge, and an Opposition that is a conscience keeper. Good leaders survive in times of adversity by drawing from a set of diverse skills and resources, but great leaders are forged in times of crisis.