Emotional Intelligence and Adaptability Key for MENA Leadership

Research from Bayt finds that 84.5% of professionals in the region believe effective leaders inspire and motivate their teams to succeed.

By Maggie Mancini

In a rapidly evolving professional landscape, leadership in the MENA region has transformed to meet the demands of modern organisations. Bayt, the Middle East’s leading job site, has released its latest poll, Leadership Qualities: Defining Effective Leadership in the Modern Workplace, which sheds light on what professionals value most in their leaders and the skills necessary to foster success and motivation in the workplace. 

While businesses prepare for a new year where effective leadership is essential for strategic planning, the poll gathers insights from professionals throughout the MENA region, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Morocco, among others. The results highlight the growing importance of adaptability, emotional intelligence, and effective communication in leadership roles.  

The poll reveals an overwhelming 85.4% of respondents are emphasising the importance of a leader’s ability to inspire and motivate their team, while 80% stress the need for leaders to manage stress effectively and model resilience to maintain employee morale. Poor communication is a primary obstacle to leadership effectiveness by 42% of participants, followed by micromanagement (22.3%) and favouritism (20.4%). Emotional intelligence has emerged as a critical factor, with 66.7% of respondents noting its increased importance compared to a decade ago, and 40.6% stating it is not much more important. At the same time, 82.5% of professionals believe adaptability is essential for leaders navigating uncertainty.  

Leadership style preferences further underscore the importance of engagement and inclusivity, with 48.6% favouring transformational leadership and 34.6% preferring democratic leadership. Regular feedback is also emphasised, with 69.3% of respondents advocating for weekly or bi-weekly check-ins between leaders and their teams. When ranking leadership traits, communication skills (39.6%) and vision (35.5%) are most critical, whereas empathy ranks lower, with only 5.9% prioritizing it as a key quality.