Project success: Examining project leader personal style drivers of morale and the ramifications for contextual performance and project outcomes

We examine the significance of leader traits as levers of morale and how team morale drives behavioral and success criteria in projects. Regression results utilizing 214 members in 65 projects, illustrate leader agreeableness, extroversion, as well as openness, play a part in the development of morale. Additionally, results show morale has ramifications for success by boosting contextual performance behavior - when workers go the extra mile during project implementation. Implications for selecting and coaching personnel to spearhead projects are provided, which have consequences for morale as well as contextual performance behavior and project success.