Women Fighting the Crisis: Antecedents of Women's Leadership Performance in Facing the Covid-19 Pandemic

Objectives: This study explores the key factors influencing women’s leadership performance in crisis situations, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to identify the most dominant factors affecting women's leadership in regional governments in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Theoretical Framework: The research builds on theories of leadership and gender, incorporating concepts from human resource management and performance analysis. Women's leadership is viewed through the lens of gendered leadership styles, organizational behavior, and crisis management. Method: A mixed-method approach was used, combining quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative data was collected through surveys distributed to 147 women in leadership positions across three regional governments, followed by qualitative interviews with key informants. Data was analyzed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to identify dominant leadership factors. Results and Discussion: The findings revealed 12 key factors influencing women's leadership performance, including motivation, organizational infrastructure, work atmosphere, problem-solving abilities, and interpersonal relationships. The study highlights the importance of collaborative leadership, communication, and fairness in performance evaluations. Women leaders were found to emphasize nurturing and interpersonal relationships more than male leaders, reflecting gender-based leadership styles. Research Implications: The study contributes to understanding gender-specific leadership during crises, emphasizing the need for supportive organizational structures and inclusive policies. The findings also suggest that women's leadership, with its focus on collaboration and care, plays a significant role in effectively managing crises. Originality/Value: This research provides a novel contribution by focusing on women leaders in sub-national units during a global crisis, highlighting the distinct leadership strategies employed by women. It adds value by identifying factors that enhance women's leadership performance in crisis management, which has been underexplored in previous research.