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And I just want to say one other thing about Mayor Giuliani: As this began, and if you were like me, and in many respects, God, I hope you're not. But in this one small measure, if you're like me, and you're watching and you're confused and depressed and irritated and angry and full of grief, and you don't know how to behave and you're not sure what to do and you don't really... because we've never been through this before... all you had to do at any moment was watch the Mayor. Watch how this guy behaved. Watch how this guy conducted himself. Watch what this guy did. Listen to what this guy said. Rudolph Giuliani is the personification of courage.

Rudy Giuliani#25

LeadershipCrisisBehaviorCourage

About this quote

What does it mean?
Giuliani describes how the Mayor served as a calming and courageous example during crisis.
In plain terms
People watched the Mayor to learn how to behave during confusion and grief.
What can you take from it?
Leaders set the emotional tone during crises.

Where it applies

  • national trauma
  • emergency response
  • community support

Putting it to work

  • crisis leadership
  • public communication
  • community guidance

Questions to consider

  • How should leaders behave in grief?
  • What defines courage under fire?

Another view

It places immense pressure on a single individual to manage public emotion.

More from Rudy Giuliani

  1. He's basically Goro in a suit.

    Permalink to quote #24
  2. And I wanted to say to the mayor of New York all our concern, our admiration for what has been done after this drama, with such an efficiency, very full of cle…

    Permalink to quote #26
  3. Frankly, you have to understand the fact that Rudy Giuliani was a McGovern Democrat, he was endorsed by the Liberal Party when he ran for Mayor. In his heart, …

    Permalink to quote #23

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