Falling Apart and Coming Together: How Public Perceptions of Leadership Change in Response to Natural Disasters vs. Health Crises

Melissa A. Wheeler, Timothy Bednall, Vlad Demsar and Samuel G. Wilson
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Melissa A. Wheeler: Department of Management and Marketing, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
Timothy Bednall: Department of Management and Marketing, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
Vlad Demsar: Department of Management and Marketing, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
Samuel G. Wilson: Department of Management and Marketing, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-19

Abstract: Responding to disruptions and crises are challenges public leaders face as they strive to lead responsibly for the good of the community. The last two years have been especially challenging for public leaders and institutions. In Australia, the federal government battled natural disasters (bushfires) and COVID-19 within the span of only a few months, beginning in late 2019. These events provided the opportunity for a natural experiment to explore public perceptions of leadership in times of crises, with both a natural disaster and health crisis in quick succession. In this study, we develop, validate, and test a scale of perceptions of leadership for the greater good, the Australian Leadership Index, throughout different crisis contexts. We hypothesize and find support for the drivers of perceptions of public leadership and shifts in these perceptions as a function of the bushfire disaster response, a negative shift, and the initial COVID-19 response, a positive shift. Comparisons of the crisis periods against a period of relative stability are made. We discuss the implications of differential media coverage, how the crises were managed, and the resulting public perceptions of leadership for the greater good.

Keywords: leadership; public leadership; responsible leadership; public value; crisis leadership; public opinion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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