Crisis Leadership in Disabilities

Crisis Leadership in Disabilities

Crisis Leadership in Disabilities

Consider the leadership characteristics you think are the most important, as well as those you find to be ineffective or detrimental, when responding to a crisis.

  • Describe two important leadership characteristics of good leadership under “normal” situations and compare those two characteristics with two important characteristics of good leadership in a crisis response.
  • Describe two destructive leadership practices that can interfere with an effective crisis response.
  • Identify the leadership positions of developmental disabilities service coordinator and team manager for developmental disabilities service coordinator.
  • Describe two leadership skills you would use as a developmental disabilities service coordinator, and whether you feel ready to take on this role, and why (or why not).

References:

James, R. K., & Gilliland, B. E. (2017). Crisis intervention strategies (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

Dombo, E. A., & Ahearn, F. L. (2017). The aftermath of humanitarian crises: A model for addressing social work interventions with individuals, groups, and communities.Links to an external site. Illness, Crisis, & Loss, 25(2), 107–126.

Fors Brandebo, M. (2020). Destructive leadership in crisis management.Links to an external site. Leadership & Organization Development Journal.  41(4), 567–580. DOI: 10.1108/LODJ-02-2019-0089

Developmental Disabilities Service Coordinator: What Is It? and How to Become One? (2025). ZipRecruiter. https://www.ziprecruiter.com/career/Developmental-Disabilities-Service-Coordinator/What-Is-How-to-Become

Crisis Leadership in Disabilities

Check our essay writing services here

APA

Crisis Leadership in Disabilities

Leadership Characteristics in Normal vs. Crisis Situations

Two important leadership characteristics in “normal” situations are empathy and consistency.

  • Empathy allows leaders to understand and respond to the emotional and professional needs of their team members, building trust and morale over time.

  • Consistency ensures that policies, expectations, and communication remain stable, helping team members feel secure and clear about their roles.

In contrast, two critical leadership characteristics in crisis situations are decisiveness and clear communication.

  • During crises, leaders must make timely, informed decisions under pressure. According to James & Gilliland (2017), delayed decision-making can intensify a crisis.

  • Clear communication is vital to reduce confusion and maintain coordination, especially in environments involving vulnerable populations like those with developmental disabilities.

While empathy and consistency foster long-term stability, crisis leadership requires swift action and transparent direction to restore safety and order.

Destructive Leadership Practices in Crisis Response

Two destructive leadership practices that hinder effective crisis management include:

  1. Authoritarianism:
    Fors Brandebo (2020) explains that overly rigid control and suppression of staff input can demoralize teams and stifle innovation during a crisis. Team members may hesitate to raise concerns or offer ideas, resulting in missed opportunities for effective resolution.

  2. Avoidance or Inaction:
    Leaders who avoid taking responsibility or fail to act in a timely manner increase risk. Dombo & Ahearn (2017) note that indecisiveness can escalate trauma among vulnerable groups, especially if

Tags