Developing Leaders in the Public Sector of the Kingdom

This white paper presents an analysis of leadership challenges and development gaps faced by public sector leaders in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). It discusses findings from research conducted by the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL), which involved surveys and feedback from Saudi leaders participating in leadership programs. The paper identifies common challenges such as leading oneself, leading teams, and leading organizations, which are consistent with global public sector leadership issues. It highlights key leadership strengths among KSA leaders, including effective communication and influencing skills. Additionally, the paper outlines critical competencies for success, revealing areas where leaders may struggle, such as self-awareness and negotiation. The research emphasizes the importance of addressing these gaps to enhance leadership capabilities and prevent career derailment. Solutions proposed include fostering collaborative leadership, building high-performance teams, and creating interdependent organizational cultures to drive innovation and effectiveness across the Kingdom.