A clarification of the importance of leadership in effective crisis management

The meaning of the concept of "crisis" varies for different situations and organisations (Campbell 1999). In some situations a crisis can develop into a disaster. It is proposed that in a number of these events some form of earlier intervention would have considerably reduced the impact of the disaster or avoided it entirely, in particular those disasters that can be categorised as being man-made. Applying the recommendations of some key researchers to the development of a crisis situation, some form of early intervention may reduce the impact and extent of the crisis and limit its extent and duration. This form of intervention, or control, is considered important if the magnitude and direction of the event is to be reduced or reversed. One avenue for intervention is by way of a direct action or involvement from among the major participants or management group. While leadership as a concept is difficult to define (Northouse 2001, Yukl 2001 and others), the scope for clarifying leadership involvement for this management group under crisis situations is considered, and if applied in a crisis situation, may offer guidelines for more effective crisis resolution or prevention.