MANAGER OR LEADER? LEADERSHIP IN CRISIS MANAGEMENT AT LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEVEL

Abstract

The article presents the importance of leadership competences of management units managers in local government and their impact on the achievement of objectives resulting from the Act on Crisis Management of April 26, 2007. Crisis management in public administration must be flexible and effective. The management theory indicates the role of human resources in the efficient and effective performance of tasks, both in public and nonpublic organizations. It should be noted that proper identification and development of the required competences of staff, particularly of the leaders/ managers of crisis management units, determines the quality of performance and the number of tasks fulfilled. Crisis management and liquidation of all types of crisis situations mean that human life and health are at stake. In such situations, the leadership competences of managers in the effective elimination of existing threats play a vital role. The development of leadership competences, among managers / heads of crisis management units, requires constant advancement, because of its specific character of activities which are carried out under extreme stressful conditions., Due to this specificity, leadership in crisis situations requires change in approach to the crisis management staff trainings conducted for the local government administration. In that respect, the author proposes to adapt the solutions used to shape and acquire leadership competences implemented by the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland, NATO and applying them in the training programmes of the management staff of the crisis management units at local government level.