Herausforderungen in Krisenzeiten: Der Einfluss von Führungskräften auf Mitarbeitermotivation

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to demonstrate how leaders can strengthen the trust and motivation of their employees in times of crisis. The focus is on the behavior of leaders and their ability to respond to the personal needs of employees. This results in increased demands on leadership, which can be met through empathetic behavior, transparent communication, and social sensitivity. Based on these requirements, concrete, action-oriented behaviors are developed using established leadership styles. Furthermore, the extent to which emotional intelligence can be helpful for managers in organizational crises is discussed. The thesis begins by defining the concept of crisis and its impact on employees and leaders. From this, specific needs of employees in uncertain times are derived. In the subsequent section on motivation, fundamental theoretical approaches are presented and factors that promote motivation are identified. The next chapter explains the concept of leadership. It outlines the responsibilities of leaders and how modern leadership approaches differ in the context of crisis. Additionally, the concept of trust is explained. The study evaluates the extent to which trust-building measures on the part of the leader can significantly contribute to stabilizing the team. Another key chapter is dedicated to emotional intelligence. The analysis focuses on how emotional intelligence supports leaders in appropriately responding to emotional challenges in times of crisis. The thesis is based on a semi-systematic literature review according to Snyder (2019). Relevant sources were evaluated, analyzed, and synthesized. The results show that the behavior of managers in business crises is significantly influenced by the perceived needs of their employees. This illustrates that leadership is effective when these needs are recognized, taken seriously, and appropriately considered. Corresponding behaviors promote both motivation and trust. In this context, transformational leadership, agile leadership, servant leadership, shared leadership, and authentic leadership exhibit behavioral patterns that are suitable in times of crisis. Furthermore, the results of this thesis emphasize the importance of emotional intelligence in times of crisis, especially in dealing with fear, uncertainty, conflicts, and stress. This ability allows for a higher degree of self-control, promotes empathetic behavior, and supports a reflective and situationally appropriate response to emotional dynamics within teams. The results of this thesis emphasize the importance of emotional intelligence as a core leadership competency to positively influence orientation, stability, and motivation in times of crisis.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	German (Austria)
Supervisor	Christine Ebner (Supervisor)