Leadership Struggles and Organizational Resilience: Analyzing the Role of Leadership During Challenging Times

Abstract/Description

Abstract

This research explores leadership struggles within organizations, particularly during periods of crisis. By examining challenges such as goal goal misalignment, unclear priorities, accountability issues, and lack of focus, this study provides insights into how leadership practices can impact organizational efficiency. Using a qualitative approach, 12 corporate leaders were interviewed, and themes related to leadership struggles and strategies for overcoming them were identified. A framework based on the findings is presented to guide future leadership practices. The study contributes to the field by highlighting the role of shared leadership, existential leadership, and organizational resilience in navigating difficult times.

Keywords: Corporate Leadership, Shared Leadership, Organizational Resilience, Leadership Struggles, Accountability

. Introduction

1.1 Research Problem

Leadership plays the most important role in organizational success, especially during the hard times. However, there are many factors internal and external that affect the leadership system It can also hinder effective decision-making or alignment in the forming strategies. Some of the barriers to leaders' effective dealings include goal goal misalignment or lack of understanding among employees, unclear priorities, team conflicts, accountability issues, lack of focus, and transparency deficits. The current study is designed to investigate such leadership challenges into their major causes and analyzes the strategies undertaken by leaders in negotiating them towards improving the effectiveness of the organization

.1.2 Research Objectives

The objectives of the current research are:

1. Determine the main leadership challenges faced by corporate leaders in difficult times.

2. Establish an understanding of the causes of leadership failures as it relates to goal goal misalignment, lack of focus, and accountability.

3. Analyze strategies adopted by leaders to sustain organizational stability and effectiveness.

4. Create a framework meant for improving leadership effectiveness within organizational settings.

1.3 Significance of the Study

This study aims to contribute to the management literature on account of leadership challenges and their implications for organizational success. Specifically, an identification of critical leadership challenges with proposed solutions should be somewhat useful to business leaders, policymakers, and researchers. This could foster leadership training, enhance decision-making processes, and nurture an organization's culture of accountability and transparency.

2. Literature Review

2.1. Leadership Struggles

Although leadership is the very core that determines organizational success, yet leaders find themselves confronting major struggles, at times especially in crises and uncertain situations. Among commonly discussed leadership struggles in management literature are those related to goal goal misalignment, reduced focus, and accountability concerns. An acute form of goal goal misalignment that exists between teams or departments causes confusion, delays, and resulting inefficiencies from eventually harming organizations. Recent research supports that the goal goal misalignment of common objectives among team members and lack of clarity in communication tend to provide fertile ground for leadership struggles (Gichuhi, 2021; Fernandez & Shaw, 2020). More over, the inability to hold a sustained focus on long-term strategic goals in the face of short-term pressures directly compromises a leader's effectiveness (Kouzes & Posner, 1995).

Another phenomenon hindering leadership is the failure of accountability within remote or hybrid environments. A new virtual workspace made performance monitoring challenging, making it more difficult for leaders to manage and motivate their teams (Babapour Chafi et al., 2022). New studies indicate that leaders need to design systems that ultimately ensure accountability, even amid the challenges of working from home (Kouzes & Posner, 1995).

2.2. Shared Leadership and Organizational Resilience

The implementation of shared leadership is gaining ground as a feasible solution to overcoming challenges associated with leadership. Shared leadership is when decision-making is dispersed among team members so that, in turn, they can own it and be responsible for it. Research has shown that shared leadership promotes organizational resilience, enabling companies to react swiftly to the changing environment and minimize the crisis effects (Cullen-Lester & Yammarino, 2016). It is stated that shared leadership promotes cooperation, and enhances the team's dynamics, which are important for innovation, especially in organizations faced with fast-changing markets and disruptions (Gichuhi, 2021).

References

  1. Gichuhi, J. M. (2021). Shared Leadership and Organizational Resilience: A Systematic Literature Review. International Journal of Organizational Leadership.
  2. Hanaway, M. (2020). An Existential Approach to Leadership Challenges. Routledge.
  3. Fernandez, A. A., & Shaw, G. P. (2020). Academic Leadership in a Time of Crisis: The Coronavirus and COVID-19. Journal of Leadership Studies, 14(1).
  4. Babapour Chafi, M., Hultberg, A., & Bozic Yams, N. (2022). Post-Pandemic Office Work: Perceived Challenges and Opportunities for a Sustainable Work Environment. Sustainability, 14(294).
  5. Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (1995). The Leadership Challenge. Jossey-Bass Publishers.
  6. Cullen-Lester, K. L., & Yammarino, F. J. (2016). Shared Leadership and Team Effectiveness. The Leadership Quarterly, 27(5), 759-774.

Keywords

Corporate Leadership, Shared Leadership, Organizational Resilience, Accountability

Track

Management

Session Number/Theme

Management - Session I

Start Date/Time

13-6-2025 2:15 PM

End Date/Time

13-6-2025 3:55 PM

Location

MCC – 14 AMAN CED Building

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Jun 13th, 2:15 PM Jun 13th, 3:55 PM

Leadership Struggles and Organizational Resilience: Analyzing the Role of Leadership During Challenging Times

MCC – 14 AMAN CED Building

Abstract

This research explores leadership struggles within organizations, particularly during periods of crisis. By examining challenges such as goal goal misalignment, unclear priorities, accountability issues, and lack of focus, this study provides insights into how leadership practices can impact organizational efficiency. Using a qualitative approach, 12 corporate leaders were interviewed, and themes related to leadership struggles and strategies for overcoming them were identified. A framework based on the findings is presented to guide future leadership practices. The study contributes to the field by highlighting the role of shared leadership, existential leadership, and organizational resilience in navigating difficult times.

Keywords: Corporate Leadership, Shared Leadership, Organizational Resilience, Leadership Struggles, Accountability

. Introduction

1.1 Research Problem

Leadership plays the most important role in organizational success, especially during the hard times. However, there are many factors internal and external that affect the leadership system It can also hinder effective decision-making or alignment in the forming strategies. Some of the barriers to leaders' effective dealings include goal goal misalignment or lack of understanding among employees, unclear priorities, team conflicts, accountability issues, lack of focus, and transparency deficits. The current study is designed to investigate such leadership challenges into their major causes and analyzes the strategies undertaken by leaders in negotiating them towards improving the effectiveness of the organization

.1.2 Research Objectives

The objectives of the current research are:

1. Determine the main leadership challenges faced by corporate leaders in difficult times.

2. Establish an understanding of the causes of leadership failures as it relates to goal goal misalignment, lack of focus, and accountability.

3. Analyze strategies adopted by leaders to sustain organizational stability and effectiveness.

4. Create a framework meant for improving leadership effectiveness within organizational settings.

1.3 Significance of the Study

This study aims to contribute to the management literature on account of leadership challenges and their implications for organizational success. Specifically, an identification of critical leadership challenges with proposed solutions should be somewhat useful to business leaders, policymakers, and researchers. This could foster leadership training, enhance decision-making processes, and nurture an organization's culture of accountability and transparency.

2. Literature Review

2.1. Leadership Struggles

Although leadership is the very core that determines organizational success, yet leaders find themselves confronting major struggles, at times especially in crises and uncertain situations. Among commonly discussed leadership struggles in management literature are those related to goal goal misalignment, reduced focus, and accountability concerns. An acute form of goal goal misalignment that exists between teams or departments causes confusion, delays, and resulting inefficiencies from eventually harming organizations. Recent research supports that the goal goal misalignment of common objectives among team members and lack of clarity in communication tend to provide fertile ground for leadership struggles (Gichuhi, 2021; Fernandez & Shaw, 2020). More over, the inability to hold a sustained focus on long-term strategic goals in the face of short-term pressures directly compromises a leader's effectiveness (Kouzes & Posner, 1995).

Another phenomenon hindering leadership is the failure of accountability within remote or hybrid environments. A new virtual workspace made performance monitoring challenging, making it more difficult for leaders to manage and motivate their teams (Babapour Chafi et al., 2022). New studies indicate that leaders need to design systems that ultimately ensure accountability, even amid the challenges of working from home (Kouzes & Posner, 1995).

2.2. Shared Leadership and Organizational Resilience

The implementation of shared leadership is gaining ground as a feasible solution to overcoming challenges associated with leadership. Shared leadership is when decision-making is dispersed among team members so that, in turn, they can own it and be responsible for it. Research has shown that shared leadership promotes organizational resilience, enabling companies to react swiftly to the changing environment and minimize the crisis effects (Cullen-Lester & Yammarino, 2016). It is stated that shared leadership promotes cooperation, and enhances the team's dynamics, which are important for innovation, especially in organizations faced with fast-changing markets and disruptions (Gichuhi, 2021).

References

  1. Gichuhi, J. M. (2021). Shared Leadership and Organizational Resilience: A Systematic Literature Review. International Journal of Organizational Leadership.
  2. Hanaway, M. (2020). An Existential Approach to Leadership Challenges. Routledge.
  3. Fernandez, A. A., & Shaw, G. P. (2020). Academic Leadership in a Time of Crisis: The Coronavirus and COVID-19. Journal of Leadership Studies, 14(1).
  4. Babapour Chafi, M., Hultberg, A., & Bozic Yams, N. (2022). Post-Pandemic Office Work: Perceived Challenges and Opportunities for a Sustainable Work Environment. Sustainability, 14(294).
  5. Kouzes, J. M., & Posner, B. Z. (1995). The Leadership Challenge. Jossey-Bass Publishers.
  6. Cullen-Lester, K. L., & Yammarino, F. J. (2016). Shared Leadership and Team Effectiveness. The Leadership Quarterly, 27(5), 759-774.