Leadership in a crisis: doing things differently, doing different things

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Psychology
• Public Health Crises

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems globally.
• Effective leadership was crucial for navigating the complexities of the initial crisis phase in 2020.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize findings from publications on healthcare leadership during the first wave of the COVID-19 crisis.
• To identify essential leadership aspects and provide practical strategies for crisis situations.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of publications related to healthcare leadership.
• Analysis of strategies adopted by leaders during the 2020 COVID-19 crisis.

Main Results:

• Identified three critical aspects of leadership during crises: communication, decision-making, and mental health/wellbeing.
• Outlined key principles and practical tips for each essential leadership aspect.
• Synthesized lessons learned from the pandemic for application in diverse leadership contexts.

Conclusions:

• Effective healthcare leadership during crises hinges on robust communication, decisive action, and prioritizing team wellbeing.
• The findings offer actionable insights for leaders to enhance their preparedness and response capabilities in future challenging situations.