Leadership strategic skills for the developmental projects

Abstract

Leadership is becoming skill-oriented. The study examines the critical leadership skills required for leading mega projects, such as NEOM. The study adopted a mixed-method approach. Initially, through a systematic literature review (SLR), seven key themes were identified. These themes were further explored through semi-structured interviews with project management professionals who possess knowledge worker expertise. The study used snowball sampling to select participants for the interviews. It was discovered that effective project leadership necessitates proficiency in change management, strategic thinking, and decision-making. Leaders are expected to inspire commitment, foster collaboration, engage in strategic thinking, identify, nurture, and retain future talent, and take initiative and manage change successfully. This study stands out in its meticulous design, merging literature analysis with firsthand experiences of knowledge workers in NEOM. Its recommendations for quantitative research and diversifying sectoral exploration contribute significantly to advancing leadership research in the context of complex development projects.