What do the countries that have responded best to the Coronavirus have in common? Women leaders.
That's how this week's Forbes article began, with overwhelming, objective data that left no room for doubt. See fig. 1.
Let's take the worst-case scenario: Germany.
how does Spain fare if we compare it?
- In Germany, with a population of 83 million people, 2,673 have died.
- In Spain, with almost half the population, 20,639 have died. fig.2
Could it be that we women are gurus?
is our IQ higher?
NO, folks, not at all.... the secret lies in the so-called (and badly named) soft skills:
- Humility
- Prudence
- Decisiveness
- Empathy
HUMILITY
To listen, to study, and to accept that we were facing an unknown situation with a precedent in China carrying a dreadful prognosis. Merkel's phrase captures it very well: "it is serious", so "take it seriously".
Aside from being a woman, there's an educational angle—the thing is, in Spain we're real blockheads... we see that in Italy it had gotten out of hand... and there we were, brazenly celebrating International Women's Day in the streets of Madrid.
Result: HUMILITY 0 – ARROGANCE 1.
Madrid, ground zero: total infected, 54,884. The rest you already know...
PRUDENCE
The well-worn saying, "when you see your neighbor's beard being trimmed, set yours to soak" [forewarned is forearmed]. It barely sank in here.
We had our dear Mediterranean friends, the Italians, who were having a really hard time... already in full lockdown.
On the other hand we have the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, who imposed near-total isolation with just 6 cases. Result: 4 deaths.
Surely her measure was very unpopular, but she made the decision—probably well advised; once again, humility and prudence.
it had been Lehman Sisters, the world would have been different"
DECISIVENESS
One of those who had the fastest response was the President of Taiwan. In January, at the first signs of the disease, she immediately introduced 124 measures to cut off contagion, without having to reach the lockdown that most countries have reached.
The decision surely wasn't at all popular, but she was quick—she didn't wait. She was surely afraid of being wrong, of being criticized, but she did it anyway.
I'd bet my neck she clashed with several members of her advisory committee, who branded her as an alarmist, as hasty, even as hysterical (this last one is the insult most often hurled at a woman).
This is about having a PURPOSE.
Tsai Ing-wen (the President of Taiwan) had a very clear purpose: to safeguard her country from the unknown, from an unprecedented health and economic crisis.
The most successful companies are those that contribute something, that are clear about their social purpose.
Are you clear about your personal and professional purpose?
EMPATHY
What does it mean to have empathy?
Empathy (from the Greek ἐμπαθής, "moved") is the capacity to perceive, share and/or infer the feelings, thoughts and emotions of others, based on recognizing the other as similar—that is, as a similar individual with a mind of their own.
It also consists of understanding a person from their point of view rather than one's own, or of indirectly experiencing the other's feelings and perceptions.
wikipedia
Do you think Mr. Boris Johnson showed much empathy in managing the crisis? Or Mr. Trump?
It was clear from China's data that the most vulnerable were precisely covid-19's perfect target. Probably nothing will happen to me, but to your granny, to your lovely neighbor across the way, or anyone with an underlying chronic illness... they have a clear disadvantage in overcoming the disease.
Beyond the financial chaos most of us are mired in, the deaths, the goodbyes that couldn't be said, and the psychological impact this situation is going to leave all of us with to a greater or lesser degree—this was about having empathy and stopping it.
Not celebrating March 8th would have been a great decision: humble, prudent and empathetic.
Conclusions and reflections:
- We don't know how strong we are until being strong is the only option we have.
- I'll probably be a better person, businesswoman and executive after managing this crisis successfully.
- Until less than two months ago, my main discussion with my husband was: "what are we doing this summer?" Today my concern and my work are far deeper: saving the company and caring for my family.
- We can't lose our sense of purpose; professional and personal.
- The most attractive companies are the socially responsible ones, the ones with nobility in their values, the ones that contribute something to society. Look at INDITEX. Watch its evolution.
Talent is overrated; I'm clearer about that every day. The most important thing is #neversurrender, my motto.
The ones who win are the ones who endure—plain and simple—not the smartest, but the strongest and most persevering.
#inevergiveup
We'll overcome this virus together.
I hope you liked it. :)
woman&business. Leave us your comments.
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