Paper Title
Leadership practises in smes operating in prolonged financial crisis. A framework for sustainability and growth.

Abstract
During prolonged financial crisis, leaders have to adapt to new circumstances in order to lead their organizations through it. This urge is more intense when it comes to SMEs where resources are limited and the variety of factors to be eliminated or changed is finite. In addition to that, SMEs is the most common organization type in Europe. So identifying and presenting solutions for SMEs leaders to handle extended crisis and ensure their business continuity is a topic of great interest. Results show that through distinct actions not only business continuity can be ensured but a perspective of business maturity and growth is open, no matter how deep or long the crisis is. Keywords- Leadership, management, crisis, SMEs.