A Conceptual Framework: The Role of Extraversion, Conscientiousness, and Agreeableness in Leadership for Human Resource Crisis Management

Human resource (HR) crisis management has become increasingly important as organizations face disruptions such as pandemics, economic instability, and organizational restructuring. Leadership traits, particularly those in the Big Five model, play a critical role in shaping responses to crises. However, limited research has examined how these traits influence HR crisis management. This paper addresses that gap by developing a conceptual framework linking three traits—extraversion, conscientiousness, and agreeableness—to HR crisis management effectiveness. The framework suggests that extraversion enhances communication and motivation, conscientiousness supports structured decision-making and accountability, while agreeableness fosters trust and collaboration during uncertainty. Building on leadership and personality theories, the study proposes three hypotheses for future testing and outlines a quantitative methodology using validated personality and HR crisis management measures. The contribution of this paper is twofold: theoretically, it extends the application of personality traits to HR crisis contexts; practically, it highlights traits organizations may prioritize in leader development and selection. The article concludes with directions for future research, including cross-cultural testing of the model and examining additional Big Five traits.