Leadership During A Crisis – 2026

Introduction

Crises have become a defining feature of contemporary governance, corporate leadership, and institutional management. Whether triggered by natural disasters, public health emergencies, economic shocks, cyber incidents, or security threats, crises compress decision-making time, fragment information, strain institutions, and expose leadership weaknesses with immediate public consequences. In such conditions, leadership is tested less by formal authority and more by judgment, coordination, communication, and the ability to act decisively under uncertainty.

This workshop is designed to examine how leaders operate before, during, and after crises. It focuses on practical leadership challenges rather than abstract theory, drawing heavily on real-world case studies from Sri Lanka and comparable contexts.

The program recognizes that crises cut across sectors. Government officials, corporate leaders, civil society actors, and security professionals face overlapping challenges even when operating under different mandates. The workshop therefore adopts a cross-sectoral lens while remaining grounded in governance and public leadership.

Objectives

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

· Understand different types of crises and their implications for leadership and institutions.

· Analyse the role of leadership decision-making under conditions of uncertainty, pressure, and incomplete information.

· Assess how information and technology shape crisis preparedness, response, and management.

· Identify coordination and communication challenges across institutions, agencies, and stakeholders.

· Apply lessons from real-world crises to improve preparedness and management frameworks within their own contexts.

Teaching Methodology

The workshop is deliberately designed to be interactive. Methodological elements include:

· Short expert inputs rather than extended lectures

· Extensive use of real-world case studies

· Facilitated discussion and participant Q&A

· Cross-sectoral perspectives and shared learning

The primary mode of delivery will be in-person, preserving the workshop dynamic and interaction. Limited hybrid participation may be accommodated on request, without positioning the programme as a fully hybrid offering.

Recognition: Participants will receive a Certificate of Participation from the Bandaranaike Academy for Leadership and Public Policy.