The 6 Key Leadership Shifts Middle Managers in Saudi Arabia Need to Thrive

Effective Team Leadership for Managers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Vision 2030 aims to drive socio-economic transformation by diversifying the economy and positioning the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) as a global business hub. Key to this transformation are middle managers who can lead high-performing teams, navigate complexity, and drive strategic outcomes for their organizations.

This report, based on a quantitative survey of 417 middle managers in KSA and qualitative interviews with 48 KSA leaders, offers a blueprint for leading teams effectively.

Inside, it outlines the 6 key leadership shifts middle managers in Saudi Arabia must make to help ensure their organizations make Vision 2030 a reality:

1. Shift From Perceived Alignment to Actual Alignment: The data reveals that while 64% of middle managers in KSA believe they align their teams with a shared purpose, underlying indicators suggest a gap between perception and actual alignment.
2. Shift From Recognizing Strengths to Full Awareness: While 55% of middle managers can identify their strengths, only 40% recognize their weaknesses, signaling a need for more comprehensive self-assessment tools.
3. Shift From Political Hesitancy to Political Savvy: Only 19% of respondents reported feeling confident navigating organizational politics. This low level of confidence may indicate the need for greater support in areas such as strategic influence, political savvy, and stakeholder management.
4. Shift From Passive Learning to Active Pursuit of Learning: 40% of middle managers in Saudi Arabia are actively pursuing learning opportunities. This may signal an opportunity to strengthen learning culture and provide development approaches to foster continuous learning.
5. Shift From Directive Leadership to Cultivating a Thriving Team Environment: While 53% of KSA middle managers report fostering psychological safety, only 41% agree they resolve conflict effectively, 44% believe they coach their teams effectively, and 40% feel confident in giving feedback, highlighting the need for targeted development in these areas for building a cohesive, high-performing team environment.
6. Shift From Isolation to Cross-Functional Collaboration: 43% of middle managers believe they effectively facilitate functional collaboration, highlighting significant challenges in breaking down organizational silos.

By embracing these leadership shifts, middle managers in Saudi Arabia can become architects of a thriving, innovative workforce, driving KSA’s transformation into a global economic powerhouse. View more about the research behind these 6 key shifts and the actionable steps your organization can take to help these managers lead their teams with clarity, purpose, and effectiveness by accessing the full white paper. 

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