Emotionally intelligent themes in medical leaders' decision-making during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges for leaders in healthcare requiring decision-making and crisis response that can often be tricky without the right level of trust. Trust is fostered and facilitated with emotional intelligence (EI); thus, a critical examination of medical leaders' reflections was essential to understand how leaders perceived their leadership responses during the initial response to COVID-19. This exploratory study used an EI lens to investigate leaders' perceptions of their decision-making during COVID-19.

A purposeful sample of seven leaders in medicine who experienced leading during COVID were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews.

Four themes around leadership response during the uncertain times of the COVID-19 were identified. The themes included communication, interprofessional collaboration including decision-making and strategic planning, internal and external awareness, and finally, trust and psychological safety.

Incorporating EI competencies into crisis leadership education for healthcare professionals could enhance medical leaders' preparedness to adapt, collaborate and communicate effectively in a crisis.