Leadership Lessons from the European Elections

Driving change is among the most common challenges leaders face. That’s why it’s always instructive to watch how others approach it.

If you’re a leader helping drive a major organisational change or cultural shift, Jack Prevezer, EZRA’s Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder, says that newly elected leaders in Great Britain and France offer real-time case studies in leading change against a backdrop of daunting complexity.

Keir Starmer, the newly elected British prime minister from the Labour Party, takes office facing multiple economic and domestic challenges. They include a formidable debt burden, high unemployment, flat economic growth, crumbling infrastructure, a housing shortage, a rising homeless population, and a troubled National Health Service.

Equally daunting challenges—a labour shortage, a decline in manufacturing, a contentious immigration debate—face President Emmanuel Macron and the newly elected parliament in France. The recent national elections there resulted in a surprising victory for the left-wing coalition, the New Popular Front (NFP), and a deeply divided government.

What’s the way forward for these newly elected European leaders?

As the new leaders settle into office, their ability to navigate complex national challenges will be closely watched. Jack highlights several key leadership lessons that these political figures can offer to business leaders:

• Employing the right leadership strategy. Jack points out that it will be critical for Starmer to sustain the support of British citizens for his efforts to reform the government and tackle the nation’s problems. Toward that end, Jack says that Starmer’s chosen leadership style represents an important strategic decision.
  
  “By embracing a model of servant leadership Starmer has indicated that he and his cabinet will focus on the greater good and the needs of the country’s citizens and civil servants. They’ll need to be visible on the frontlines and in the trenches to build the trust and credibility needed to drive real change.”

• Building the right team. Starmer, formerly Britain’s lead prosecutor, brings to the Prime Minister job a reputation as a technical subject matter expert. That separates him from his predecessors who were known as charismatic leaders.
  
  “Much like in business, there’s a time and place for charismatic leadership and for leading by conviction and a time and place for being data-driven and evidence-led.” That’s the direction the country’s voters have now chosen, Jack points out, and it will be critically important for Starmer to bring in the right technical experts and to empower the country’s civil servants to access and use data to inform their decisions and actions.

• Focusing on execution. “Whether you’re seeking to turn around a company or a country, the right fundamentals are necessities,” Jack says. “You need a clear strategy and strong leaders in place who can execute on that strategy.”
  
  Author Peter Drucker’s famous quote “culture eats strategy for breakfast” alludes to a major risk facing both Starmer and the new leadership in France: fostering and maintaining the right culture to drive change.
  
  “If you don’t have the right culture and the right team environment, it’s going to be nearly impossible for leaders to drive change.”
  
  Jack also stresses the importance of communication and for leaders to set the right tone. He points to the blunt language Starmer has used during his first few weeks in office to explicitly describe the severity of Britain’s problems. Doing so, Jack says, will help to set the stage for the more painful actions Starmer may need to take, such as raising taxes or cutting programs.

• Getting help from experts. When confronted with large and complex challenges, Jack says the strongest leaders are those who seek the advice and counsel of others. A best practice he advocates is building a trusted advisory board of professionals and experts in areas where you may lack experience or proficiency.
  
  “Consulting the right experts to help inform and guide your decisions can make all the difference. Given the scope and severity of the challenges they are facing, I hope these new leaders in Britain and France will do this. It can make a tremendous difference.”