'Sometimes the Crisis Makes the Leader': Andrew Cuomo and Five Lessons on Leadership

Crisis-communication experts have pointed out how sometimes the crisis makes the leader. To explain this, they have taken the example of New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who is at the frontline of the fight against coronavirus in New York. Mr. Cuomo's job performance rating soared in March to its highest level ever according to a poll. He uses daily briefings, in which he presents data methodically in power-point slides coupled with his personal opinions. Crisis communication experts have singled out five traits of a leader by reacting to Mr. Cuomo's leadership style:

1. According to Lawrence J. Parnell, associate professor of strategic public relations at George Washington University, a leader should be transparent, credible and accountable. To make people believe in what you are saying, you need to be personal and believable.
2. Tough time need tough people to act, and that is what Governor Cuomo is doing amidst the crisis. America needed a field general to take the pandemic head-on. Mr. Cuomo did exactly that, "He is informed, his sleeves are rolled up, he's walking the talk he is not abrogating the 6-foot rule just because he's president or prime minister". In the virus crisis, he let go off dysfunction, which kills, and engaged people's trust very quickly
3. Erik Bernstein, president of Bernstien Crisis Management, Inc., says that "he's making people in he's in there with them". He presents stressful information with some personal stories and anecdotes to let people absorb as much as possible. He is not getting carried away by the job and promising people what he cannot deliver.
4. Chris Allieri, founder and principal, Mulberry & Astor, a communication consulting firm, has identified Mr. Cuomo's particular way of presenting the information. He mixes personal stories with critical information in a professional way. This is a good way of handling a crisis in a professional style.
5. Along with all the above-mentioned aspects, clarity in communication is of utmost importance. A simple and straightforward message is more powerful than a flashy and sugarcoated one. Instead of talking about abstracts, being particular and concrete about what you want to get done is relevant for a leader.

 Being a leader, and that too in a crisis takes a lot to prove one's mantle. Mr. Cuomo's leadership style is what plays the role of a tower of light for anyone seeking inspiration in tough times.

Link: https://www.wsj.com/articles/sometimes-the-crisis-makes-the-leader-andrew-cuomo-and-five-lessons-on-leadership-11586364647

Time: April 9, 2020 11:30 am ET