Authors: Adebiyi Adeniyi Mayowa
Abstract: Effective leadership behaviour is critical for the successful delivery of building construction projects, particularly in complex and stakeholder-intensive environments such as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. This study evaluates the leadership behaviours demonstrated by project managers on building construction projects in Abuja, aiming to determine the prevalence of negative leadership traits in project practice. A quantitative research design was employed, utilizing structured questionnaires distributed to built environment professionals. Descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean score, and standard deviation, were used for data analysis. The study achieved a response rate of 84%, with 185 valid responses analyzed. The results indicate that the most prominent negative leadership behaviour was insensitivity to team members’ behaviour (Mean = 3.2083), followed by poor communication behaviour (Mean = 2.8375) and assuming little or no responsibility (Mean = 2.5875), all rated at a neutral level. Other behaviours, such as inadequate planning and organizing (Mean = 2.4042), highly autocratic behaviour (Mean = 2.4000), overdependence (Mean = 2.3750), inability to select competent personnel (Mean = 2.3208), high reliance on subordinates (Mean = 2.1583), and nonchalant attitude (Mean = 2.1292), were rated lower and considered less prevalent. The average total mean score of 2.4912 suggests general disagreement that these negative leadership behaviours are commonly exhibited by project managers, indicating that project managers in the study area generally display acceptable and positive leadership practices. The study recommends ongoing leadership development through training in communication, emotional intelligence, interpersonal relations, and team management, as well as the promotion of participative leadership styles, enhanced accountability systems, and mentorship for emerging project managers. Strengthening leadership capacity among project managers is identified as essential for improving team coordination, stakeholder satisfaction, and project delivery performance in Nigeria’s construction industry.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20135601
