Walsh, Susan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2564-0608 and Johnston, Alan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4796-466X (2025) Accidental or Serendipity:  The role of unplanned leadership in building community among volunteers. Leadership & Organization Development Journal. (In Press)

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Abstract

Purpose – This narrative study explores leadership among spontaneous volunteers who came together at the time of the Covid-19 pandemic. In particular it focuses on the need of an individual to undertake leadership responsibilities, and the acceptance of that individual into the role.

Design / Methodology / Approach – The study considers data collected from spontaneous volunteers who emerged during the Covid-19 pandemic. It focuses on retelling their personal accounts and experiences. Adopting a case study approach and using narrative data collection, the research aims to explore and understand these individuals' experiences in depth.

Findings – The research concludes that authentic, ethical, and modelling leadership can constructively influence spontaneous volunteers who find themselves in leadership roles even when they have risen to leadership accidentally. An unanticipated, yet undoubtably importantly, insight, was the substantive impact on emotions and wellbeing of the volunteers who valued the purpose of belonging. It is suggested that accidental leaders realise accomplishment through the creation of a community culture, in which membership are empowered, motivated, and inspired to be collaborative sharing best practice while striving at a shared vision. As such the development of an appropriate and community-based culture is a critical feature of the leadership role.

Originality – The paper considers the development of leadership and the impact of an unexpected chain of events that may be useful to consider in the context of a number of events that occur unexpectedly.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	'This author accepted manuscript is deposited under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC) licence. This means that anyone may distribute, adapt, and build upon the work for non-commercial purposes, subject to full attribution. If you wish to use this manuscript for commercial purposes, please contact permissions@emerald.com.'
Status:	In Press
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management
School/Department:	York Business School
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/13163

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