Empathy and Communication: Key to Success in the Face of the Pandemic

These women leaders have applied brilliant communication skills. The ability to communicate with its citizens is essential and they do it correctly. This not only advocates for more meaningful female leadership, but also drives for more women in decision-making positions.

Uma Kambhampati, Professor of Economics at the University of Reading, comments on this phenomenon to The Telegraph: "We were surprised by the consistent positive results in those countries led by women, yielding significantly lower figures for cases and deaths."

At least in part, this appears to be the result of how leaders have responded to the crisis, especially since the onset of COVID-19. Countries like New Zealand applied blockades and faster and more decisive measures. According to Professor Kambhampati, women leaders tend to have a particular way of relating to their citizens and that could make a difference.

They also seem to have communicated the details of their strategy better. Some of those who stand out are the Prime Minister of Norway, Erna Solberg.

When Solberg spoke directly to the children, answering their questions about the coronavirus and talking to the little ones could have been overwhelming, but the Prime Minister handled it well. Then there is the example of Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand. The way Ardern communicated with its citizens on a daily basis using Facebook Live.

Explaining to people what is happening and why it is essential to follow the protocols has been crucial. It's about teaching trust in what leaders say, and part of that is about how they get the messages across.

Also read: Who are the female world leaders who have managed to control COVID19?

These women have felt that soft skills such as empathy and collaboration must be enhanced, combined with decisiveness are particularly helpful at this time. From New Zealand to Iceland to Bangladesh, women have been winning the war against COVID-19.

Unquestionably, the pandemic is making visible vulnerable communities that society has overlooked for too long.

In an interview with Amy Batson, executive director of WomenLift Health with CGTN America, the expert said: "The reality is that 70% of the workforce in health areas are women, but I can guarantee that there were hardly any women in the table when the government made those health decisions. "

Some women leaders have taken bold and innovative steps to support their economies, such as Peru's Finance Minister María Antonieta Alva. She negotiated a relatively complete recovery package for small businesses and individuals throughout her country with elements that had never been tried before in Peru.

In Norway, Prime Minister Erna Solberg has held a press conference specifically for children to answer their questions and help them. Their families process what has been happening in the pandemic.

These women have acted decisively, with empathy, and were not afraid to risk doing something untraditional. Far from failing, we are seeing how effective these women are in leading crises, and this should be a stark reminder to the world that women's leadership is vital in difficult times that inevitably affect income as well.