Exploring the Leadership Skill and Challenge in Responding Natural Disaster: Lesson Learning from Leaders Involved in Emergency Response of Bangladesh

Abstract

Abstract Bangladesh is widely known as a land of natural disasters and remains classified as one the most vulnerable countries in the world. Over the last thirty years, Bangladesh has experienced nearly 200 natural disasters accounted for damage of asset, property and, livelihoods and over thousands of death toll. In this connection, effective leadership is critical in order to make disaster response system operative in an effective and efficient manner. This study explores the disaster leadership with a view of identifying the essential leadership skills that are needed by leaders to effectively respond in the aftermath of disaster. It also intends to explore challenges that these leaders face, with a view of improving disaster response leadership. This study revealed that some key essential leadership skills such as intuitiveness, decisiveness, communication, networking, accountability, and learning are required to respond disasters effectively. Findings from this study provided not only an overview of leadership skills needed to face challenges, but also the challenges that these leaders face, with a view of equating the challenges with appropriate skill needed to respond in the context of Bangladesh.