Making sense of leaders’ perceptions about effectiveness in communication during a crisis
Abstract: Nowadays crisis leadership must display greater representation in organizational studies for the reason that leadership organizing capability is constituted through communication. This hesis employs a sensemaking perspective to obtain a broader understanding of the ways leadership unfolds under abrupt uncertain circumstances that are also vulnerable to changes in the environment, such as crises. Besides, this study presents the particularity of delving into the centrality of communication from a constructionist view in order to understand how crisis leadership is constituted through the communicative interactions of individuals. In order to do this, this qualitative study displays the sensemaking of 20 Swedish crisis managers to get their own perceptions of communication effectiveness in crisis management, how they make sense of self-identity in the role of crisis leadership, and the part of communication in the meaning construction of realities during a crisis. The results display that crisis leaders recognize the fundamental role of communication in the meaning-construction and to maintain a shared sense of meaning among individuals. Crisis leaders concern about communicating stories of learning, and following-up. They show a high sensitivity to anticipate the crisis and emphasize that effective communication builds good relationships between networks. Managers acknowledge that good communication skills ensure effective leadership during a crisis. In making sense of crisis leadership this study shows the intersection of leadership, organizing, and communication as intertwined processes.
AT THIS PAGE YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE WHOLE ESSAY. (follow the link to the next page)