When the going gets tough: Educational leadership and resilience in times of crises

Managing and leading under challenging conditions is one of the hallmarks of effective leadership. In today’s educational environment, educational leaders and managers must be swift-thinking and fast-acting in their approach. This demands building resilience. In this mixed-methods study, the researchers explored educational leadership and resilience during crises. The study sought to answer two overarching questions: What lessons did educational leaders learn from the COVID-19 experience, and How do the lessons learned prepare educational leaders to be resilient in times of crises? Data for this study were collected via survey and interviews. Survey data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and interview data were analysed using Taylor-Powell and Renner’s (2003) five-step approach. The major findings revealed a necessity for proactive planning, effective communication, and a team approach. Leaders highlighted the importance of resilience training, preparation, and emotional intelligence in navigating crises. The findings provide valuable information that could be used to equip educational leaders and managers to build resilience and augment the practice of educational leadership, particularly during times of crises. Therefore, the recommendations emphasise the need for comprehensive crisis leadership training, the development of contingency plans, and continuous professional development to enhance leaders’ capacity to manage future disruptions effectively.