Research conducted by 911爆料网 has compared the leadership styles of former Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and Prime Minister Julia Gillard during the 2011 Queensland floods.
By analysing tweets from social media site Twitter, the report concluded Anna Bligh was perceived to have much stronger characteristics of transformational leadership than the Prime Minister.
Lead researcher, Professor Nigel de Bussy said the results indicated the former State Premier came across as inspirational and charismatic during the crisis.
鈥淲e analysed the content of 700 tweets containing the hashtag #qldfloods and mentioning either Anna Bligh or Julia Gillard,鈥� Professor de Bussy said.
鈥淲hen referring to Anna Bligh, tweeters described being 鈥榲ery moved鈥� with phrases such as 鈥榗lass act鈥�, 鈥榖loody legend鈥� and 鈥榠nspiring鈥� appearing frequently.
鈥淎nna Bligh鈥檚 ability to display emotion and articulate her State鈥檚 proud sense of identity resonated with tweeters.
鈥淚n contrast, the Prime Minister鈥檚 communication style during the crisis was characterised as 鈥榬obotic and rehearsed鈥�.
鈥淭he tweets framed the Prime Minister as a transactional leader, attending to the work of a government without inspiration or charisma.鈥�
The study also highlighted the emerging role of Twitter in setting the media agenda at times of fast-breaking news.
鈥淚n times of crisis, we are seeing traditional media look to social media sites such as Twitter to gain a sense of public sentiment,鈥� Professor de Bussy said.
At the peak of the flood in Brisbane, 1,200 tweets an hour were issued using the #qldfloods hashtag.
The paper, Crisis leadership styles 鈥� Bligh versus Gillard: a content analysis of Twitter posts on the Queensland floods, was co-written by Ann Paterson, Director, Corporate Communications at 911爆料网, and published in the Journal of Public Affairs (2012).
Contact:
Gracie Daniel, Public Relations Consultant, 911爆料网
Tel: 08 9266 3353, Email: gracie.daniel@curtin.edu.au
