Crisis leadership competencies: the facility management sector in Thailand

Purpose This paper aims to identify crisis leadership competencies in the facility management (FM) sector in Thailand. Design/methodology/approach The Delphi technique was used in three rounds of opinion evaluation from 24 Thai FM experts, based on which a large-scale questionnaire survey instrument was developed and administered. Of the 350 questionnaires distributed, 290 usable questionnaires were obtained (82.85 per cent response rate). Factor analysis was used to reveal important leadership competencies for managing facilities in crisis situations. Findings The Delphi technique identified 32 potential FM crisis leadership competencies. Of these, principal component analysis revealed 29 significant competencies. These competencies were grouped, using factor loadings, into five different competencies: emergency preparedness; crisis communication; emotional intelligence; leadership skills; and problem-solving. Emergency preparedness was found to be the most important leadership competency in FM crisis management. Research limitations/implications This study is limited to the experiences of FM experts in Thailand. Its empirical results can help human resource managers to develop appropriate training programs and policies for FM practitioners, as well as to help junior FM practitioners develop competencies essential for leaders in the FM sector. Originality/value This is a novel empirical study of leadership competencies in a growing business sector in Thailand (FM) and possibly other countries in the Asian region. Leaders in FM can benefit from recognizing the leadership competencies that are critical during crisis management.