Personality and Leadership Behaviors in Architectural Design Offices in Turkey

Abstract

Although the relationship between personality and leadership behaviors has aroused significant research interest, scholars have conducted limited research in the construction sector, especially in the area of design. The primary focus of this study is to determine the personality differences among leader architects and the relationship of personality to leadership behaviors. Because this relationship is directly related to the design team's performance, personality can be a key to effective leadership in the design process. The Big Five model of personality is a well established and frequently used measure of personality. Data were collected through a questionnaire on personality and leadership behaviors from 40 architectural design offices in Turkey. Significant positive correlations were observed between conscientiousness and employee-oriented and task-oriented behavior; emotional stability and achievement-oriented and employee-oriented behavior; agreeableness and openness to experience and task-oriented behavior; and extroversion and employee-oriented behavior. This study reveals that personality traits can relate directly to leadership behaviors and that the personality of the architect leader can affect leadership behavior.