A masterclass in leadership: Andrew Cuomo
https://suzanbond.medium.com/?source=post_page-----8c34a853a7ee--------------------------------
Suzan Bond
Apr 24, 2020 · 6 min read
Every morning I have a frittata. It’s a ritual I started when I was a COO for a scaling startup, as a way of fortifying myself for a packed schedule ahead. As a business owner, I’ve continued the routine. While I cook, I like to listen to something. I catch up on podcasts or my favorite series. During the pandemic, I’ve tuned into the daily press briefing by Andrew Cuomo. This is noteworthy for two reasons: I haven’t watched the news in years and I dislike hearing politicians speak. This is to say that this is atypical behavior.
As a New Yorker, I started watching for the latest news about my state. I wanted to know where the outbreak was the worst and the challenges the state and its people were facing. As the pandemic worsened, I wanted information on where we were in the curve, when the sirens in my neighborhood might abate, when it might be safe to go outside again.
Every day I turn on the live feed while I make my frittata. As the olive oil heats up I listen to the daily statistics. I sauté the onions. The spinach, broccoli and bell peppers go into the pan. As the vegetables cook, I watch him talk about what’s next and what we might anticipate. By the time reporters are asking questions the dish is just going into the oven. I sit and watch while I wait for it to bake.
As I listened day after day, something new emerged: pride for my leader. As the situation stabilized I needed the press briefings less, but I kept listening. I stayed for his leadership.
Tough times like a global crisis have a way of becoming inflection points. Leading during uncertain times is like taking a
leadership course on steroids. Some rise, becoming stronger for it, while others falter under the pressure. During this outbreak, Andrew Cuomo has risen to the challenge of managing one of epicenters of the world. The pride I feel in my leader isn’t about his politics or even necessarily about practical decisions like resource allocation. It’s about the pure leadership skills he demonstrates.
Every day is a masterclass in leadership.
Photo by
Riccardo Annandale on
Unsplash
Five leadership lessons to take away
Take responsibility
“To those who are upset about our careful approach — don’t blame your local official. Blame me.”
Few things are more frustrating than someone who constantly blames others when things don’t turn out well. It’s even more infuriating when it’s a leader. Navigating through tough obstacles to help the team win is a leader’s job. We respect leaders who take responsibility as a personal edict.
Leaders who embrace the position of being the bad guy make us feel more safe. We don’t worry that they’re trying to hide something from us. We trust they’re going to be direct and transparent — that they’ll share the good and, the bad news. It’s easier to believe they’ll be honest about whatever happens. Even when they fail, we don’t doubt they’ll work doggedly to solve problems that arise. Leaders who take responsibility become trusted and often beloved, even when they’re imperfect.
Create community
“You have a responsibility to act prudently because you’re not just putting your own life at risk…It’s not about me, it about we.”
Photo by
Nicole Baster on
Unsplash
The most masterful leaders act as community managers, fostering a sense of community inside their organization. Strong leaders remind people of the values the community holds dear
(“tough, smart, disciplined, unified, loving”) to remind them that we’re in it together. They act as a maestro, encouraging everyone to play their part.
They share a vision of what the future can look like and, explain the role of every person in the community. These leaders give people a sense of purpose, letting them know their role in the community.
(Staying home means saving lives.) The most effective leaders show how where you fit and how you can have an impact. They help you see your part in the overall goals. Masterful leaders know that when we’re all rowing in the same direction, each doing our part — we become a force multiplier propelling us to our goal faster and with less friction.
Focus on the problem (and avoiding in-fighting)
“This is not the time for confusion or disagreement.” It’s not the time, place or situation to start divisive politics.”
Photo by
Anna Samoylova on
Unsplash
Rather than fight with other leaders he sees the real enemy: a virus that’s taken many lives across the world. When anyone tries to goad him into a fight, he refuses to take the bait. In his arena, it’s easy to see how politics can fall into creating sides, making enemies out of others but it in companies too.
Too many companies stumble when they don’t get a grasp on internal conflicts. When in-fighting begins to grow, it becomes a distraction and can eventually take over existing priorities. This threatens the well-being of the entire ecosystem, even threatening its existence if not kept in check.
It’s human nature to find an enemy to vanquish. It can provide a rallying cry, solidifying a team during a crisis. The best leaders know that if an enemy is needed, it isn’t within your walls, it’s outside of it. The most effective leaders help the team stick together. They know the outcome they’re driving towards, refusing to be lured away. They know that division drives us towards failure and unity the faster way to win.
Keep the team focused
“This is a profound moment in history. Our actions shape our future. If we get reckless today, we’ll suffer the consequences tomorrow.”
After a month of focused action, the trend was heading in the right direction but, the battle wasn’t over yet. People needed perspective about where they were in the fight
(“This is a marathon, not a sprint.”) and a reminder of the consequences if they didn’t stay the course.
When facing big challenges, especially those which threaten the entire system, it’s easy to get distracted. All those human feelings show up. We get antsy, we’re tired of the drudgery of doing the same thing day after day, we want to shift our attention elsewhere. It’s hard to stay motivated over long stretches of time. It’s just human nature.
To overcome a challenge requires focus. It means putting in effort day after day, all while waiting for those returns to pile up into recognizable achievement. This requires perseverance, resilience and above all, focus. Masterful leaders know how to draw a line between our actions and the results. They keep us motivated when we get fatigued.
Show your humanity
“Mom made me.”
This was his response when his brother Chris thanked him for coming on his television show, giving us a glimpse at their brotherly love. He tells stories about Sunday dinners and explains what the affectionate term “meatball” means from his Italian heritage. He shows incredible compassion when he shares negative information.
(“Now for the terrible news.”) He shows that he’s human.
Being a leader and and a human is a tricky line to navigate. Having confidence is necessary for trust and yet, they won’t if you pretend that you’re perfect. This is a common struggle for leaders. As one once told me, “I need to convey confidence to employees, investors and customers. I can’t look like
I’m falling apart.” Even though it’s tricky, when they do find that balance the whole team benefits.
We hold leaders to sky high standards. We expect a lot out of them, as we should. We also forget that leaders are human, which means they’re fallible. They make mistakes, have bad days and sometimes make poor decisions.
It’s hard for any of us to admit when we’ve made a mistake — even harder for leaders whose work is very public. While he might have a bigger stage, all leaders face having their work scrutinized by the team, investors, customers, and the public. Admitting when you’re wrong means being willing to be vulnerable. Showing your humanity is also what makes others’ trust and ultimately, to follow you. To be a leader you have to influence others, to get them to follow your lead. This is when the whole team wins.
