In-depth Leadership Review: Rishi Sunak

Are you interested in learning from other leaders in the world today? Yes, well you’re in luck, because that it was you will get from this post. Experience is essential in leadership and learning from others is one of the most effective and quickest ways to do that.

In this post, the In-Depth Leadership Review of Rishi Sunak, I will reviewing his Leadership behaviours against my A.R.E model.

Before I proceed, I want to make clear that the purpose of the In-Depth review in purely to provide a place for leaders to learn. This post does not intend or aim too, in any way, be personally or politically defamatory, insult or have any political agenda. This post is a place for learning.

What is the A.R.E model?

If I’m reviewing a person’s leadership behaviours against a model, then you need to know what that model is. Through years of learning, developing as a leader and researching others, I came to the conclusion that I all leaders share three core areas in common; A.R.E. The A.R.E model stands for the three core areas of a leader, which are: Adaptability, Right Behaviours and Experience. Within each core area are elements which are exhibited by great leaders. If you’re interested in learning more, I explain these elements within my Leadership Simplified Handbook, Managers Are Not Leaders. Essentially, the A.R.E model is a method of simplifying how to behave like a leader.

In order to help you better understand the model, in a very simple way, I will share with you my definition of a leader:

“A leader is one who leverages their influence by using their experience to adapt and exhibit the right behaviours to influence any situation to create a positive outcome”

Essentially, what I will be doing is reviewing how well Mr Sunak suits the above definition of a leader.

Who is Rishi Sunak?

Rishi Sunak is a British politician who has served as Chancellor of the Exchequer since February 2020. He is a member of the Conservative Party, where he previously served as Chief Secretary to the Treasury under Chancellor Sajid Javid from July 2019 to February 2020. Sunak has become a lot more well-known during the Covid-19 pandemic where he has made a series of bold statements, decisions and actions aimed at steering the United Kingdom through the crisis.

Strengths & weaknesses

The leader in questions strengths and weaknesses will be reviewed against the three core areas of a leader: Adaptability, Right Behaviours and Experience. However, let me share some of the more well-known strengths of Sunak.

Sunak’s strengths are widely considered to be:

• Confident
• Empathetic
• Decisive
• Hard-working
• Detail oriented

One of the more discussed weaknesses of Sunak are:

• Lack of experience

Adaptability

A leader does not need to be the best at everything. A leader cannot do everything. But what a leader can do, is adapt to any situation and come out the other end winning. Adaptability represents a leader’s ability to be flexible enough to perform and deliver in any scenario.

Firstly, let’s look at Sunak’s path to his current position. Sunak attended Winchester College, an all-boys’ public boarding school where he waited tables at a curry house in Southampton during his summer holidays. He studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Lincoln College, Oxford. In 2006, he obtained an MBA from Stanford University. Despite a stellar education background, he tried and failed to win a full scholarship, which meant that his parents had to work extra hours to pay the fees. Sunak said to BBC’s Nick Robinson that “[his parents] general view was that they were going to work really hard to provide a better life for their kids. Education is everything. That’s an ingrained value in my family. That’s how you provide a better life”.

Prior to moving into Parliament, Sunak was an Investment Fund Manager and a Director of his Father-in-Law’s investment firm, Catamaran Ventures. As a Member of Parliament he was the head of the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Research Unit of centre-right think tank Policy Exchange, for which he co-wrote a report on BME communities in the UK, a Pro-Brexit supporter writing a reports on trades post Brexit, stepped-down and was re-elected as MP.

Following this Sunak became the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and then Chancellor of the Exchequer following Chancellor Javid’s resignation.

Adaptability has four component parts: to listen, to change, to react and to act. A leader must utilise them all in order to achieve the best possible outcome. And let’s be honest, despite what all the critics say, Sunak has taken on a role during one of the most unpredictable situations the world could face, the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Looking at Sunak’s journey so far it can be looked at as a man who lived his family’s values by studying to achieve an MBA, albeit the studies were funded by his parents. It seems as though his key focus was money, but that was not his passion. Most of his leadership journey really occurred after University where he has taken on many roles and, to date, taken on one of the biggest challenges to face a Chancellor of the Exchequer in recent times. I will share more of his actions in the Right Behaviours sections below.

Now, does all of the above strike you as someone who is adaptable? Pre-University, I would say no. However, post-university, yes. Sunak’s comes across as a leader who has taken wins and losses, but grown in strength.

Adaptability score = 1 Star

Right Behaviours

As a leader you need to display the right behaviours to lead people in the right direction, to influence them. If we exhibit the right behaviours, we can increase our ability to influence another person. Leadership is not so much about skills, but above how one conducts themselves to act, or behave. Within this core area there are ten right behaviours.

To learn more about the ten right behaviours of a leader, order a copy of my book.

Communication

The purpose of communication as a leader to be engaging, open and honest in order to influence others for a mutual positive outcome.

If you watch the video above, you’ll notice that Sunak that when he speaks the rest of the house is silent. Often, people jeer and complain throughout a talk, however, this clear, concise and open speech shows that Sunak communicates correctly.

Does Sunak make you want to listen to what he has to say? Does he speak in an open and honest way? Does he communicate in a way which makes you feel that he is trying to benefit others? The answer to all of those questions is yes.

Communication Score = 1/1

Sovereignty

Sovereignty in leadership is essentially to ability to control ones emotions and mind so that decisions are made rationally rather than emotionally. A leader should behave as the sovereign as a leader, imagine the Queen of England.

It can be said that Sunak has yet to face situations which will truly test his character and composure, however, I would say that Sunak, as a previous investment fund manager and now Chancellor during one of the most unpredictable economic times, has managed his emotions well. According to the Financial Times, Sunak is the “only minister to emerge from the pandemic with his reputation enhanced”. I attribute this mainly to his ability to control his emotions and make logical decisions.

Furthermore, during this talk where he speaks about the hard economic times ahead within the UK, he maintains his composure and speaks openly and honestly about how “nobody will be left without hope”. This a clear example of how a leader behaves during difficult times.

Does Sunak behave like a Sovereign? Yes.

Sovereignty Score = 1/1

Language

The language we use changes how people perceive us as a leader and affects whether people trust us or not. The language a leader use is essential as it is one of the most identifiable means to develop trust with another person, which then leads to a connection, which results in greater levels of influence. See below my language equation:

Positivity + Inclusive + Clarity = Trust = Connection = Influence.

It is quite clear that Rishi Sunak has adapted and learnt how to communicate like a leader. In his speeches his main focus is to build trust between him, his government party and the people. He does this by using language which follows my above equation.

According to Ahmed from Reaction, colleagues from Sunak’s Investment days, his secret to success was his affability. This good nature opens up a connection with people through the use on inclusive language. As shown in the videos above, he uses phrases like “we will get through this”.

“This is not a time for ideology and orthodoxy, this is a time to be bold, a time for courage”.” “I want to reassure every British citizen, this government will give you all the tools you need to get through this. We will support jobs, we will support incomes, we will support businesses, and we will help you protect your loved ones. We will do whatever it takes.” Rishi Sunak’s first public Coronavirus address in mid-march shows a person demonstrating positivity and inclusiveness. He then went on to explain how he would be releasing “unprecedented” sums of money (some £300+ billion) to support his plans. He spoke in a clear and concise way which provide clarity.

The way Sunak communicated in his language creates trust. According to Grice from the Independent in May 2020, “Public trust in the UK government has risen from 36 per cent to a remarkably high 60 per cent since January, the biggest jump in the 11 countries surveyed in PR firm Edelman’s ‘trust barometer’”. A lot of this can be attributed to the language Sunak uses, where the trust then allows him and his government to better influence the situation.

Compare this to the UK Governments Health department’s handling of Covid 19 testing strategy. According to the Financial Times, “Only 1 in 5 NHS trust leaders back Covid testing strategy”. That is largely down to the way the testing situation has been communicated, where it has been done without a positive approach, with a divisive them and us policy, and without clarity.

Does Rishi Sunak communicate like a leader? Yes.

Score = 1/1

Presence

The dictionary defines presence as “the state or fact of existing, occurring, or being present.” It goes on to explain presence as “a person or thing that exists or is present in a place but is not seen.” So, if you cannot see it, how can you measure it? How do you quantify it? How can you understand and work to improve your presence? Presence does not need to be a mystical, unquantifiable and complicated thing. Presence can be simplified into two categories: tangible and Intangible. Tangible presence is what you actually do. Intangible presence is what people think of you and their opinions of you. Intangible presence is affected by the way you behave and the way you treat people. Our behaviours, as leaders, define our presence.

Rishi Sunak does not exactly come across as the most charismatic leader, but I believe that is because he is still forging his path and he is fully aware of how he wants to be perceived and ensure he doesn’t step on anyone’s toes. According to Ahmed from Reaction, a senior Tory backbencher told the news outlet that “He’s very assiduous about keeping up with MPs. He sends texts around and does the rounds. You’d assume all politicians do that, but it’s actually rare. You have to be very ambitious.”

Behaviour like that is a true example of presence in leadership; being the person who you want to talk to, the person you want to get to know and the person you want to be your leader.

You can also see examples of his presence during press conferences and interviews. How often do you see a politician fumble, bumble and stumble through interviews, especially when live. They come across as unprepared, avoiding the truth and untrustworthy. That isn’t the case with Sunak. As can be seen in the videos above, he is fully present for each interview exhibiting the right behaviour of a leader.

Does Sunak have the presence of a leader? Yes.

Score = 1/1

Listening

Leaders listen and feel to what is going on around them first, then decide on the path forward. Leaders listen to others to draw on their support before making any decisions.

The biggest examples of Rishi Sunak’s demonstration of listening has come during the Covid crisis. This section is quite simple, he has done exactly as a leader should. He listened to the concerns and problems and tried to respond as best he could. In August 2020, Sunak even took to LinkedIn to answer queries from the public. This is a demonstration of a forward thinking leader.

Does Sunak listen like a leader? Yes.

Listening Score = 1/1

Authenticity

People are able to connect with people that they feel are being genuine and authentic. When people see a leader as authentic, they hear what they have to say, the people trust the leader more, then form a connection and ultimately this increases the leaders influence.

Dubbed “the whatever it takes Chancellor” and “Santa Claus in Hazmat” by Hooker from the BBC, Sunak so far seems to be a Leader that people trust. However, is that purely down to the fact that he is throwing a lot or money at a problem, or, do people connect with who he is as a person?

In many interviews Rishi Sunak has often spoke of his pride in his immigrant upbringing, his family values and his strong views on creating a “’freer, fairer and more prosperous” Britain. A lot of these values stretch back a few years where it seems as though his beliefs have not changed. For example, he has often spoke out against racism, quite notably being a key member in an ethnic minority think tank and publically stating that he would “not support Boris Johnson if he was a racist”. As explained above, Sunak is clear in his actions and communication, which creates trust. It seems as though his intentions and authentic values were starting to shine through as a leader.

However, a couple of months into his tenure and Chancellor, it was made known to the public that his Father-in-Law was a billionaire investment capitalist. This was somewhat of a setback for Sunak as people started to question his true intentions. Multiple news outlets began questioning Sunak’s motives and passion within the role. This is an example of how ones authentic reputation can be tarnished by the actions within their life. It opens up questions, such as: how can a leader promise to have the best economic intentions for the country when they themselves have no lack of money? Or, can I trust a leader have the best intentions for my money when they are a billionaire?

The answer right now is that it is too early to tell. Sunak’s progression has been fast paced until now and his true intentions are yet to be shown.

Is Sunak seen as authentic? No, because there has not been enough coverage or exposure to test his authenticity.

Authenticity Score = 0/1

Connections

Connections equal influence and the strength of a leaders influence is determined by the strength of their connections. Motivational speaker, leadership coach and businessman Tony Robbins said in 2019 that leadership is about influence over others. The greatest leaders throughout history have been so well known because of their ability to influence others. Influence is developed through connections.

Sunak’s rise to Chancellor has been a quick and famous one. He is now tipped to be a future Prime Minister. This reputation doesn’t just come from plodding along, no, this sort of rise comes from making connections with the right people. His colleagues often speak of his ability and willingness to speak to and befriends as many people as he can within Parliament, something that is rarely done. These are the actions of a leader who knows that true influence comes from connections.

That is his colleagues, however, what about the people? Based on his speeches, communication and willingness to get out in front of camera, speak positively, inclusively and clearly has allowed him to form a connection with the people. Many people spoke of how Sunak would save the country, however, in my opinion that was because he was throwing money at a problem. If someone was paying you to sit at home, wouldn’t you like them?

Progressing through the year, Sunak is facing a tougher task of connecting with the people. Take for example some recent Tweets from the public:

• “#RishiSunak is worth £200 million and he has left 3 million people without any coronavirus financial support #MartinLewis is worth £128 million and he spends his life helping people save money, get better deals and manage their funds”
• “Thanks to #OliverDowden and #RishiSunak not listening to the Live Entertainmenr sector or providing Furlough Support for our severely impacted industry. Just want you to know I got made redundant this week.”
• “People should not have to beg for support during a global pandemic. You have let 3 million people down.”

Feedback like this shows that although Sunak may be fantastic at connecting with colleagues, the public is a whole different ball game. Despite this, Sunak understands the rules of leadership. In order to develop influence a leader needs to connect with people. So far he done that.

Does Sunak connection with people like a leader? Yes.

Connection Score = 1/1

Trust

It can take years to earn trust from a person but a minute to lose it. Building trust takes time but can be broken by not seeing through your actions. When someone trusts you, respect that trust and allow it to build over time. A leader however, should not use that trust for manipulation, but for positive influence.

Trust is not something that is easily built. Building trust with others takes time and a series of actions. Sunak has yet to be a senior leadership position long enough to determine whether or not he can, not only develop, but maintain trust as a leader. Sunak has a few ups and downs, for example:

• The furlough scheme built trust
• Not having a recovery plan destroyed trust
• Announcing tax relief schemes built trust
• People finding out Sunak is worth over £200m destroyed trust

Therefore, in my opinion, it is too early to determine whether or not Sunak can develop and maintain trust like a leader.

Trust Score = 0/1

The compass

The compass is all about becoming the guide by being the calm within the storm. In times of struggle and clouded visions a leader must be decisive to steer the ship forward.

In March 2020, when people were panicking over loss of jobs and pay, Sunak stepped forward in an address to ensure the people that the Government would pay 80% of furloughed wages. This is the behaviour of a leader. When there is confusion, cloudiness and a lack of clarity, a leader steps forward and provides clear and concise direction.

It is obvious that Sunak’s rise that he definitely demonstrates some behaviours of a leader, however, becoming the compass is one behaviour he is yet to master. In the early days during the Covid-19 pandemic, Sunak was very outspoken over his initiatives, such as the furlough scheme and ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ Scheme. But, since those schemes have come to an end, the presence of Sunak has faded. There are now more questions on the direction forward than before. This, unfortunately, is something far too common in politics, but Sunak has the opportunity to change this and become the compass.

Can Sunak be seen as a guiding Compass? No. To date, Sunak came across like the compass until it seemed as though he ran out of ideas, or faced scrutiny which derailed his plans. Right now, there cloudiness is growing Sunak needs to step forward.

Compass Score = 0/1

Confidence not ego

To be clear confidence and ego are not the same thing. Being egotistical is to tailor every situation tailor to your own self-interest. Having confidence is to feel or believe in yourself and others. There is a difference. Ego should not have a place in management, leadership or any area of work. Egotistical behaviour destroys relationships. Rather than focusing on your own self-interest, show confidence by focusing on others.

I am going to keep this one simple, is Rishi Sunak demonstrating examples of giving the power back to the people or manipulating the people for his own personal gain? As per the majority of the examples I have shared above, despite the uncertainty over his intentions, Sunak so far has demonstrated behaviour in line with a leader who acts in the interest of the people.

However, the people have only seen a small part of the behaviours of Mr Sunak. The people are yet to see how he behaves with that power. For that reason I believe that it is too soon to judge.

Does Sunak display Confidence not ego? No, but only because we haven’t seen how Mr Sunak behaves when he receives power.

Confidence not ego score = 0/1

Right Behaviour total = 6/10

Right Behaviour Overall Score = 1 Star (Received a score more than 5)

Experience

Leaders are different because they utilise experience to be able to adapt to any situation. In order to behave more like a leader, we focus on using our experience to help us adapt to any situation. Experience comes in two components:

1. Experience you have
2. Experience you don’t have

Sunak is a man who has made decisions based on what on the support of others and his own life lessons. Just take the examples I have shared above. This is a man who utilises experience in the right way, by utilising his own and others knowledge to make the best decision to suit the situation. In his summer statement Sunak told MPs he was tackling the crisis “unencumbered by dogma”. This is also an example of someone who is learning from the past and others.

However, the challenge in this area will come on how Mr Sunak behaves and acts when times get tough and he needs to make decisions which may or may not be right, or will upset people. Will Mr Sunak chose to behave like a leader or not?

Experience Score = 0 Star

My opinion

In my opinion, Rishi Sunak has the potential to be a future leader of his country. He is a man, who despite the questions about his character and intentions, understands how to behave like a leader. For the most part he demonstrates the three core areas of a Leader. With time and experience he will go on to become an even greater leader. Is he a great leader yet? The answer is no, but can he be? The answer is yes.

My only suggestion to Rishi Sunak would to be as open and honest about his intentions, show strong demonstrations of empathy and be authentic to his background as he often speaks about. People will see whether he follows the orders of his bosses to stay in power or whether he will act in a true and authentic nature to benefit the people. In order to stay true to his course he should be as honest to the people as possible. Remember, people can see through dishonesty and unauthentic people. Mr Sunak will need to be careful moving forward on how he communicates tough choices and how he wields his power.

Overall Leadership Rating

A.R.E Rating = 2 Stars

Thank you for reading, JT

References:

• Ahmed, M, Reaction Life (2020) – https://reaction.life/rishi-sunak-britains-next-prime-minister/
• Judah, Ben (27 May 2020). “Take a Chancellor on me: Inside the world of Rishi Sunak”. Tatler.
• Sudha-Narayana Murthy’s son-in-law Rishi Sunak wins polls as Conservative party member”. The Economic Times. 9 May 2015. Archived from the original on 12 May 2015.
• Grice, A (2020) – https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/coronavirus-rishi-sunak-boris-johnson-treasury-jobs-economic-crisis-a9501281.html
• Financial Times (2020) – https://www.ft.com/content/05fec839-6f2d-4946-a563-08eea6b0091e
• Hooker, L (2020). https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51490893