Leadership in crisis conditions on the example of public organizations

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to analyze and present the conclusions of the research conducted on leadership and the qualities of a leader that were expected by public sector employees to those who lead their organizations under crisis conditions. Design/methodology/approach: For the purpose of the article, the authors attempted to synthesize views on leadership and the characteristics of a leader. Conducted in 2022 among employees of the public sector, the empirical research using the method of structured interviews was used to analyze attitudes in a crisis situation among managers of public institutions located in Lubuskie and West Pomerania. Findings: The results of the research made it possible to determine the leadership qualities expected by employees of public entities toward management during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research limitations/implications: The analysis presented is not comprehensive, due to the multifaceted nature of the leadership issue. The presented conclusions may provide important information for further research into the issue at hand. Practical implications: The analysis of the research results made it possible to indicate which leadership competencies should be improved by managers employed in the studied public entities. The presented research results can become a guideline for managers employed in other public organizations, as well as private entities. Originality/value: The value of the research conducted lies in identifying key leadership qualities that, in the opinion of subordinates, were felt to be in short supply, particularly noticeable during the COVID-19 pandemic.