The Perspectives Of Saudi Arabian Professionals Regarding the Most Important Soft Skills for Leaders to Possess in Telecommuting Environments during Crisis: A Q Methodology Study

Abstract

This Q methodology study aimed to explore Saudi Arabian professionals’ perspectives regarding the soft skills they considered most important for leaders to possess in telecommuting environments during crises. Q methodology was developed to study human subjectivity and uses both quantitative and qualitative procedures to do so. As is the convention for a Q methodology study, a single question guided the research: What are the perspectives collectively held among Saudi Arabian professionals regarding the soft skills they consider most important for leaders to possess in telecommuting environments during crises? The researcher developed a 44-item Q sample of opinion statements, each reflecting an important soft skill. The researcher recruited 44 participants using purposeful and snowball sampling techniques. These 44 participants sorted the 44-item Q sample into a forced distribution in ways that reflected their perspectives. The researcher subjected the 44 Q sorts to a series of statistical procedures: first correlations were identified among the sorts and then those correlations were factor analyzed, rotated, and extracted. These procedures produced 6 distinct perspectives which were named Communicating Stability by Modeling Reliability, Honesty, and Credibility; Listening, Disclosing, Engaging, and Inviting Bidirectional Communication; Ethical Exemplars through Fairness, Goodness, and High Moral Values; Capable Solutions-Oriented Leadership; Future Orientation, Confidence, and Big Picture Leadership; and Leadership Skills that Convey Stability, Clarity, and Strength. Findings from this study hold implications that include how businesses and other organizations in Saudi Arabia might incorporate efforts to facilitate leader development of soft skills to better prepare organizations to respond to any future disruptive crises.