Healthy Leadership in Turbulent Times: The Effectiveness of Health‐Oriented Leadership in Crisis

Abstract Previous research has supported the positive effects of health‐oriented leadership (HoL) on follower health. However, effectiveness in times of crisis is unknown. This study examines whether crises weaken or strengthen the positive relationships of health‐oriented leadership with follower strain and performance. Effectiveness was tested for (1) follower irritation and performance (extra effort) in smaller crises on the team level with a vignette study (N = 257) and (2) follower exhaustion and performance (task proficiency) during the Covid‐19 crisis in a cross‐sectional survey study (N = 196). As expected, the results provided evidence for an increase in follower health with higher health‐oriented leadership but a decrease in health in crises. The positive relationship between health‐oriented leadership and follower health was even stronger in crises. Health‐oriented leadership had a positive relationship with job performance in both studies. Our findings provide initial evidence that health‐oriented leadership is particularly important for followers affected by a crisis, and that leaders should display health‐oriented leadership in both small‐scale and large‐scale crises. Findings suggest that health‐oriented leadership does not undermine goal achievement but relates positively to performance. More generally, the study contributes to the clarification and deeper understanding of situational contingencies of health‐specific leadership concepts.