Rising above Crisis through the Power of Distributed Leadership: Leadership Insight from Covid-19 Pandemic for a Better Led Third Sector

Abstract

This research argues that distributed leadership has the potential to precipitate a more effective leadership during times of crisis like we witnessed during Covid-19 pandemic with specific focus on the Third Sector (voluntary sector). It has been contended that during uncertain, critical time, which is christened volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) era, leadership style can be instrumental in shaping organisational behaviour and actions for a better operation, stability and success in the long haul. As COVID-19 struck, governments, the world and organisations including the third sector faced unprecedented challenges ushered in by the pandemic. Prospectively, in rising above these challenges and in contrast with the conventional, managerial-driven management practice in the third sector, this article contends that distributed leadership can engender effective change management as well as facilitate third sector organisations to rise above this quandary, leading to a better led Third Sector. The methodology adopted in this research is anchored in review of secondary sources that consequently aided development and justification of the conceptual framework appropriated here, which has the capacity to shed new light on how to navigate crisis of leadership during critical moment like the COVID-19 and related organisational challenges. It is believed that this argumentation would guide institutions, policymakers, and governments in times of uncertain times to lead more effectively.