ABSTRACT

Important aspects of Julia’s leadership practice were transformed through navigating a personal crisis, and she believes that she is more effective as a leader now that she is attentive to the impact of personal crises on her staff. An initial exploratory study by the first author entailed extensive interviews or written responses from 15 individuals who had experienced a personal crisis while serving in a leadership role. The results of the initial interviews provided a base for the development of a qualitative survey-based research project, which then informed the development of a descriptive model and quantitative follow-up survey that more deeply examined important factors associated with effective leadership during a personal crisis. Once a crisis occurs, leaders make a disclosure decision – that is, deciding whether to tell staff, peers, and supervisors or keep the crisis private, and whether to seek help to get through the crisis.