Solving and effectively tackling crises requires cooperation. This statement is often considered a universal truth. The abundant literature assesses the performance and cooperation of crisis...Show moreSolving and effectively tackling crises requires cooperation. This statement is often considered a universal truth. The abundant literature assesses the performance and cooperation of crisis management organizations during a crisis. However, the existing literature neglects whether leaders within tasked with crisis management adopt a leadership style that facilitates this cooperation. This study defines how a crisis is associated with leadership behavior and if collaborative leadership behavior occurs. The COVID-19 pandemic presents a unique opportunity to assess this behavior. Leaders and people working under their supervision working in crisis management organizations of the Dutch Haaglanden safety region are interviewed to reflect on the approach a leader took and their behavior. The qualitative methods used present a deeper understanding of what leaders motivate to make certain decisions. Collaborative leadership behavior does occur during a crisis. The main motivations are that the increased pressure on the organization and the high uncertainty levels drives leaders to adopt several features of collaborative leadership behavior. Therefore, this research concludes that a crisis incentivizes leaders to assume a leadership style that facilitates collaboration within and between organizations. Nevertheless, further research is required on how other dimensions of crises – media and public pressure and resource scarcity – are associated with leadership behavior.Show less