This study examines the impact of leaders’ personality traits-emotional stability, openness to experience, and conscientiousness-on employee performance in selected construction firms in Abuja, Nigeria. Utilizing a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 93 participant across 15 construction companies using structured questionnaires adapted from the Big Five Inventory and Campbell’s Organizational Performance Index. Multiple regression analysis revealed that conscientiousness and emotional stability significantly and positively influence employee performance, while openness to experience does not have a significant direct effect. Conscientiousness emerged as the most influential predictor, underscoring the importance of reliability and goal-oriented behavior in leadership roles. These findings suggest that leadership development programs in the construction industry should prioritize enhancing conscientiousness and emotional stability to improve employee performance and organizational success.
Keywords: Employee Performance, Leaders' personality traits, emotional stability, openness to experience; conscientiousness
