Research conducted by Curtin University has compared the leadership styles of former Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and Prime Minister Julia Gillard during the 2011 Queensland floods.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Lead researcher, Professor Nigel de Bussy said the results indicated the former State Premier came across as inspirational and charismatic during the crisis.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe analysed the content of 700 tweets containing the hashtag #qldfloods and mentioning either Anna Bligh or Julia Gillard,\u201d Professor de Bussy said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen referring to Anna Bligh, tweeters described being \u2018very moved\u2019 with phrases such as \u2018class act\u2019, \u2018bloody legend\u2019 and \u2018inspiring\u2019 appearing frequently.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnna Bligh\u2019s ability to display emotion and articulate her State\u2019s proud sense of identity resonated with tweeters.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn contrast, the Prime Minister\u2019s communication style during the crisis was characterised as \u2018robotic and rehearsed\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe tweets framed the Prime Minister as a transactional leader, attending to the work of a government without inspiration or charisma.\u201d<\/p>\n
The study also highlighted the emerging role of Twitter in setting the media agenda at times of fast-breaking news.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn times of crisis, we are seeing traditional media look to social media sites such as Twitter to gain a sense of public sentiment,\u201d Professor de Bussy said.<\/p>\n
At the peak of the flood in Brisbane, 1,200 tweets an hour were issued using the #qldfloods hashtag.<\/p>\n
The paper, Crisis leadership styles \u2013 Bligh versus Gillard: a content analysis of Twitter posts on the Queensland floods, was co-written by Ann Paterson, Director, Corporate Communications at Curtin University, and published in the Journal of Public Affairs (2012).<\/p>\n