Authentic leadership in crisis scenarios: a phenomenological examination of the lived experience of corporate leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic unleashed a host of challenges worldwide including political instability, financial turmoil, and public health concerns in 2020. As a result, new constraints including remote work environments, shifting consumer demands, and supply chain disruptions created a complex landscape for businesses. Leaders within companies have been confronted with crisis scenarios. The purpose of the study was to understand the role of authentic leadership in helping corporate leaders navigate the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. The central research question was: To what extent, if any, does authentic leadership enable leaders to navigate crises effectively? The research is focused on the intersection of authentic leadership, crisis leadership, and COVID-19 pandemic era leadership and is grounded in the theoretical framework of social constructivism. The corporate landscape and the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 constituted the backdrop for the study