Anchored leadership in extreme contexts: toward a model of enduring purpose under systemic collapse

Purpose This paper introduces the Anchored Leadership in Extreme Contexts (ALEC) model to explain how leaders maintain mission focus, composure and moral clarity during systemic collapse and prolonged uncertainty. It addresses gaps in crisis leadership theory by showing how internal anchoring–rather than external validation–enables sustained leadership in humanitarian, conflict and institutional failure settings. Design/methodology/approach This conceptual paper synthesizes insights from crisis leadership, spiritual leadership, positive organizational scholarship and ontological security. It develops the ALEC through theoretical integration and narrative illustrations, emphasizing three interdependent dimensions: non-contingent stability, strategic patience and enduring purpose. Findings ALEC proposes that leaders can remain grounded and purpose-driven even without follower support or system continuity. Leaders who internalize ALEC's dimensions show emotional steadiness, long-term vision and value clarity–extending leadership theory to account for deep uncertainty and structural collapse. Research limitations/implications As a theoretical model, ALEC has not yet been empirically validated. Future studies can test its dimensions, build assessment tools and examine its impact on leader performance and organizational resilience across sectors such as humanitarian work, military and public health. Practical implications ALEC can guide leadership training, coaching and crisis strategy in volatile sectors. It equips leaders to act with composure and long-term purpose when external support is unavailable, supporting development programs that build internal resilience and mission alignment. Social implications In a world of escalating instability, ALEC helps prepare leaders in nonprofits, crisis response and development sectors to sustain ethical and effective leadership under relational isolation and systemic collapse, thereby advancing leadership capacity for uncertain futures. Originality/value This paper contributes a new leadership model grounded in internal anchoring, not reactive adaptation. ALEC integrates diverse literatures to offer a values-based framework for resilient leadership in extreme contexts, supporting both scholarly advancement and real-world application.