Bend it Like Bonnie: Power & Politics During a Pandemic

<p align="justify">When vaccines became widely available in 2021, Dr. Bonnie Henry—the provincial health officer of British Columbia (BC)—was tasked with the monumental mission of immunizing all BC residents against the COVID-19 pandemic. By November 19, 2021, almost 91 per cent of eligible residents had received their first dose of the vaccine, and 87 per cent had received their second dose. At the same time, the pediatric vaccine for children aged five to eleven was approved by Health Canada; however, polling suggested that BC parents were hesitant to vaccinate their young children. Henry faced the new challenge of creating a plan to convince parents and caregivers that vaccinating their children was both necessary and safe.<p>

<p align="justify">This case examines the use of power and political behaviour in a challenging context: health care leaders trying to encourage the public to trust their advice. It is suitable for courses on organizational behaviour and leadership at the undergraduate or introductory graduate level. The case focuses on several key areas often covered by these courses, including power, dependency, influence tactics, leadership style, and political behaviour. It illustrates how a government official communicates to the public using political skill, bases of power, leadership, and influence tactics. The situation is relatable globally because all countries had a form of leadership guiding them through the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the context is a public figure communicating to the public, the strategies used are relevant to leadership in an organizational setting. After working through the case and assignment questions, students will be able to<p><br><ul><li>describe the concepts of power, influence tactics, and political skill;</li><li>identify the various power bases used to influence behaviour;</li><li>analyze the political skill and influence tactics used by leaders to build trust and inspire action; and</li><li>create a plan for a leader that encourages desired action during an emotionally charged health event.</li></ul>

• COVID-19
• pandemic
• organizational behaviour
• power bases
• concepts of power
• dependency
• influence tactics
• leadership
• leadership style
• political behaviour
• political skill
• health event