The Evolution of Leadership Practices During the COVID-19 Pandemic

In the midst of the pandemic, we examined the key leadership behaviors that shaped how organizations adapted to COVID-19 and whether certain leadership practices were being used more/less frequently. Some leadership practices were being used more frequently, including two practices expected during times of crisis (e.g., resilience), and others seem to be specific to the COVID-19 crisis (e.g., planning skills, transparency). Additionally, certain leadership practices, such as developing/motivating others, were found to be used less often compared to before the pandemic. Implications of these findings include proactively adjusting strategies around leadership development and high potential management and preparing leaders for potential shifts in leadership expectations in a post-COVID world.