My research focuses on the mental models associated with leaders in a crisis situation. In order to grasp the thought process during a catastrophic event, it is essential to analyze a conceptual model as it applies to a leader’s cognitive abilities, which is composed of two facets noted as the descriptive and prescriptive mental models, (Combe & Carrington, 2015). The descriptive metal model focuses on the interpretation of external changes that occur in a crisis, (Combe & Carrington, 2015). The prescriptive model concentrates on cause and effect and future actions that provide clarity in the midst of ongoing changes, (Combe & Carrington, 2015). According to the authors, Combe & Carrington, (2015) longitudinal research perspective is beneficial …show more content…
In order to understand the thought process of leadership during a crisis the author states that we must first understand a conceptual model that is theoretically grounded, (Combe & Carrington, 2015). The conceptual model is divided into two elements the descriptive and prescriptive mental models, (Combe & Carrington, 2015). The descriptive mental model focuses the external changes that occurred crating the crisis. The prescriptive mental model concentrates on future actions that need to be implemented to derail the cognitive overload due to continuous external changes as the situation unfolds. The prescriptive model aligns objectives providing clarity to future implications related to crisis, (Combe & Carrington, 2015). The authors, Combe & Carrington, (2015) have noted the importance of longitudal research perspective to capture the thought processes of interaction communication and problem solving in a crisis. This type of research method is instrumental in depicting the challenges to incorporate better solutions to evolving situations. Sense making in a crisis defines these issues to ascertain the complexity and provide meaning to the event, (Combe & Carrington, 2015). Sense making entails filtering excessive data to identify the areas of importance. This perspective provides a means of taking a negative that being disruptive and changing it to a positive or opportunity for improvement. …show more content…
Ambiguity can create an abundance of interpretations, therefore creating a situation of being overwhelmed do to degraded focus, (Combe & Carrington, 2015). Uncertainty is the direct opposite by providing minimal to no interpretation thus leading to misdirection and disorientation, (Combe & Carrington, 2015). It is at these times that it is imperative for a leader to seek assistance and work with a team. This will provide different perspectives in formulating a solution. Working as a team can influence changes in mental models thus creating cross understanding by sharing the same perceptions in reaching a consensus, (Combe & Carrington, 2015). According to the authors, Combe & Carrington, (2015) cross understanding can be very beneficial to accurate interpretations, of a crisis, but at the same time can also lead to errors in judgement. Based on prior research there is a concern regarding leaders utilizing case based knowledge and prior experience in addressing a crisis, (Combe & Carrington, 2015). I feel that this is partially true due impart that crisis situations are unpredictable events that cannot be modeled from previous case study’s, therefore establishing a set method of addressing the problem might not be the best approach. I would consider previous
Michael is a 56 year old male who lives alone in a small tin shed in the middle of the bush in central Queensland. He has no children, no partner and lives by himself. During the day he spends his time sleeping on the couch or doing chores around the property. If he isn’t asleep, he requires a stimuli to remain occupied. When he was a young boy, he was a very calm child with a great sense of humour. His physical health was perfect with good energy levels. When he was sexually abused at the age of 8, by his grandfather, these characteristics started to change. From the age of 16 he was having regular breakdowns in his thinking and emotional responses. Michael was constantly feeling irritable and having trouble sleeping with frequent nightmares. As the years went by his attitude was extremely negative which led on to him being withdrawn from his family and friends. During his last year of high school, he started to regularly use marijuana. He would experience countless amounts of paranoia episodes where he would hear voices and thought he was being spied on. At the age of 45 he was fin...
Crisis is an event that is unplanned, unwanted, and dangerous and leads to hard decision making. There are many different types of crisis such as economic crisis, mental health crisis, situational crisis, social crisis, adventitious crisis and many more. Every type of crisis affects people more than we think and know. There is always someone who loses and who gains during a crisis. People who lose are usually the ones who are affected the most such as losing a job, losing a family member or someone close to them, losing their homes and sometimes even their own lives. The people who gain are usually the rich people who prey on the poor and usually gain from making money and the poor’s lives miserable.
Echterling, Presbury and McKee (2005) define crisis as a turning point in one’s life that is brief, but a crucial time in which, there is opportunity for dramatic growth and positive changes, as well as the danger of violence and devastation. They further state that whatever the outcome, people do not emerge from a crisis unchanged; if there is a negative resolution, the crisis can leave alienation, bitterness, devastated relationships and even death in its wake; on the other hand, if the crisis is resolved successfully a survivor can develop a deeper appreciation for life, a stronger sense of resolve, a mature perspective, greater feelings of competence, and richer relationships.
...g by; First, I would make sure that their is plenty of feedback for the employees. As our text suggests, "Without feedback, learning can not occur"(Crandall, W., Parnell, J. & Spillan, J. (2013). Secondly, I would make sure that I have a great crisis management team that are well trained and drilled. Thirdly, we would have a strategy and plan for crisis events. Also, It is very important to make sure that your team members are all confident in their ability to make good decisions for the company. So many times, people are afraid to make decisions. This leads to scapegoating within the departments, and the whole blame game. That doesn't get anybody anywhere.
All these principles will be useful in the crisis. Be aware of hazards during the crisis. A person should be aware of client’s hands because if they have anything in their hands, there is a risk of getting hurt. Be aware of weapons/chemicals that are in easy reach of the clients. A helper should be aware of escape routes if things get out of hands. Always maintains a safe distance when interacting with others. All this knowledge and information will help me in preventing the crisis and be
Situational leadership is a theory which was designed in 1969 by Paul Hersey and Ken Blanchard. The “contingency theories of leadership” states that a leader’s effectiveness is dependent on their behaviours in relation to different situational factors. Thus, situational leadership theory, relates to how a leader 's effectiveness is depend on their ability to adjust their leadership behaviour to the required level of the “followers” capability or if the situation is modified.
In order to understand the thought process of leadership during a crisis, the authors state that we must first understand a conceptual model that is theoretically grounded, (Combe & Carrington, 2015). The conceptual model is divided into two elements, the descriptive and prescriptive mental models, (Combe & Carrington, 2015). The descriptive mental model focuses the external changes that occur during a crisis. The prescriptive mental model concentrates on future actions that need to be implemented to derail the cognitive overload due to continuous external changes as the situation unfolds. The prescriptive model aligns objectives, providing clarity to future implications related to the crisis, (Combe & Carrington, 2015). The authors, Combe & Carrington, (2015) have noted the importance of longitudal research perspective to capture the thought processes of interaction, communication and problem solving in a crisis. This type of research method is instrumental in depicting the challenges to incorporate better solutions to evolving situations. Sense making in a crisis defines these issues to ascertain the complexity and provide meaning to the event, (Combe & Carrington, 2015). Sense making entails the filtering of excessive data to identify the areas of importance. This perspective provides a means of taking a negative, that being disruptive and changing it to a positive or opportunity for
The scenarios described made me reflect on all of my personal experiences. Once a member of a dual-military couple with over-lapping deployments the ability to balance life and work required critical thinking of the third and fourth order effects. Communication is heard differently when it is passed over 5,000 miles and the various elements must be considered. Additionally, the description of SGT Amy Stokely reaction to the IED detonation in front of her clearly illustrated all of the elements of critical thinking - Clarity, Accuracy, Precision, Relevance, Depth, Breadth, Logic, Significance, Fairness, etc. A leader must be able to reach to instinct and training in stressful situations and apply initiative to ensure safety and mission accomplish.
Today’s resiliency leader requires unique skill sets to be successful in any organization. Leaders who capture leading by example, vision and helping others weather the storm have taken the first step to success. Followers seek the following key concepts to validate their need for the organizational structure. Visionary leaders look at the big picture of the organization, and they pave the way of future endeavors. Another concept that is equally important to a leader’s vision is leading by example. When the leader introduces the vision into an organization, they need to lead the way by setting the example of what they vision should look like. They must hold themselves and their subordinates accountable for the stage set. Lastly
Crisis is a critical moment and an important decision have to be made and if not handled carefully, it may lead to a disaster. The characteristics of crisis is the presence of danger and opportunity, seed of growth and change, complicated symptomology, the necessity of choice, no pancreas or quick fixes, universality and idiosyncrasy, resiliency and perception. Crisis can affect a person’s feelings, behaviours and thoughts negatively to the point where they self-harm, commit suicide or even harming others around them. You might not know when crisis will happen as it can happen anytime. Crisis is a dangerous as Ait can harm an individual thoughts to the extend where they commit suicide. It is difficult to understand the effect of description
The Cynefin Framework sort or categorizes the issues facing leaders into five contexts according to the nature of the relationship between cause and effect. In four of these contexts—simple, complicated, complex, and chaotic— leaders should diagnose situations and act in contextually appropriate ways. The fifth context—disorder—applies when it is unclear which of the other four contexts is predominant.
..., Crisis communication failures: The BP Case Study, International Journal of Advances in Management and Economics, Issue 2, March-April 2013, accessed 28 March 2014,
This chapter looks at descriptive research which involves identifying the characteristics of a phenomenon that is being observed. This type of research does not tamper with the state of the situation under investigation. This chapter describes observation studies, correlation research, development design and survey research which give information that can be summarized through statistical analyses. In observation study the following strategies should be used: Defining the behavior being studied carefully to make it easy to recognize it when it occurs, Divide the observation period into small segments and see whether the behavior occurs in each segment, use a rating scale to evaluate the behavior, have two people rate the same behavior independently and finally rate the raters to use specific criteria when counting or evaluating.
The communication process is not something that begins when a crisis rears its ugly head rather it is a process that takes place in preparing for a crisis before it happens. While the term crisis represents a blanket term used to describe many situations, each situation is unique, thus presenting different obstacles to overcome. However, with a well-established advanced plan in place an organization places itself in a position to overcome and work around obstacles. The development of a comprehensive crisis management plan is one achieved through effective communication where each member of the crisis management team has an advanced shared understanding of his or her role and responsibility during a time of crisis (du Pr'e, 2005).
“Situational theory tends to focus more on the behaviours that the leader should adopt, given situational factors (often about follower behaviour), whereas contingency theory takes a broader view that includes contingent factors about leader capability and other variables within the situation”