How Volodymyr Zelensky's Leadership Makes A Difference

It has been, by some measures, a difficult couple of weeks for the Ukrainian army and its people. 

But rather than remain in his bunker, President Zelensky visited most of his army's fronts, talking with troops, asking questions, reiterating the nation's appreciation for their service and sacrifices. and putting himself at some risk. That leadership inspires others - and differentiates him from his adversary, Putin of Russia. And in so doing, he personifies shared danger - and reinforces what it means to lead in hard times as well as good. JL  

Mick Ryan reports in War In the Future:

A true president doesn't hide in a bunker. Zelensky visited embattled Luhansk, Kharkiv and other regions at the very frontline. An important leadership characteristic demonstrated by Zelenskyy has been his willingness to take personal risk to visit soldiers in the field, and get his own sense of how the war is progressing. It allows him to get a feel for morale and capability. It allows him to ask questions, to engage with soldiers in the field, to reiterate the purpose of their service and to show trust by placing his life in the hands of the military. This is an important way he differentiates himself from his adversary. A true President doesn’t hide in a bunker. After his visits to Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, and the heavily embattled Luhansk regions at the very frontline,

@ZelenskyyUa

visited Mykolayiv and Odesa regions to reward heroes. Step by step #UAarmy is kicking the enemy out of his land.

 

An important #leadership characteristic demonstrated by

@ZelenskyyUa

has been his willingness to take personal risk to visit soldiers in the field, and get his own sense of how the war is progressing.These visits have a range of purposes. First, it allows

@ZelenskyyUa

to get a feel for the morale and capability of his military in the field. You can read reports all day, but there is no substitute for walking the ground with leaders at the tip of the spear.

 

A second purpose is that it allows him to ask questions. This is an important function of a national political leader in their interaction with military commanders. Even the best staff cannot anticipate all the questions their leaders might have.

 

A third reason for the field visits by

@ZelenskyyUa

is to engage with the most junior soldiers in the field, to inspire them, recognise their sacrifice and to reiterate the purpose of their service. Purpose is the most important thing a leader can provide.Soldiers react differently to their President or Prime Minister when at war or deployed on operations. Visits like this have profound impacts on morale.

 

Another purpose of these visits is for

@ZelenskyyUa

to show that he has trust in his Army. He shows he is comfortable in placing his life in the hands of his military - it is an important and strategic trust-building exercise between politicians and military leaders. Fifth, this is an important way that

@ZelenskyyUa

differentiates himself from his adversary. It is unlikely that Putin will ever visit the poorly fed and led - but well-armed - Russian troops in #Ukraine.

 

And, it is an important way for Ukrainian citizens to engage with their President - and see him as a human who is also affected by this war and its impact on the people of #Ukraine.Finally, these visits draw attention from audiences external to #Ukraine as part of their global influence campaign. In demonstrating that he is not a ‘bunker leader’,

@ZelenskyyUa

shows us all that he is the leader of a nation worth supporting in the long term. End.