As soon as I came in as leader, we had seven weeks to an election, so we had to be entirely focused on the job we had in front of us.
Interpretation
A leader must prioritize and focus on immediate tasks to achieve success.
In this quote, Jacinda Ardern emphasizes the importance of being dedicated and focused on the responsibilities at hand, especially in the lead-up to critical events like elections. It underscores the necessity for leaders to direct their attention to the vital tasks and challenges they face in order to effectively guide their teams and succeed in their objectives.
In practice
During a team meeting about upcoming projects, I shared this quote to highlight our need for focus.
We've had a debate about immigration in New Zealand for some time. Now what we're trying to champion in that conversation is a recognition that New Zealand has been built off immigration. I myself am a third-generation New Zealander.
One of the things I'm so determined to preserve and restore is the fact that you can be the kid who was born in Dinsdale and find yourself working for the British government in the U.K., to being prime minister.
Between being loved and being feared, I have always believed Machiavelli was right. If nobody is afraid of me, Iβm meaningless.
People always think the coach is the strongest person at a club, the boss, but in truth, he's the weakest link. We're there, vulnerable, undermined by those who don't play, by the media, by the fans. They all have the same objective: to undermine the manager.
Management is getting people together to figure out how to transform inputs into outputs. In the process of figuring out the process of how people work together, you've got to figure out who's got what responsibilities, and how do they work together.
When a man assumes a public trust he should consider himself a public property.
I make no apologies for being reasonable.
Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.
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