Competencies, skills, and personal characteristics needed for pharmacy leaders: An in-depth interview.

Objectives: This study aims to explore the essential competencies, leadership development strategies, skills, values, and personal characteristics required for pharmacists aspiring to leadership positions in Saudi Arabia. Methods: Semi-structured, in-depth interviews, conducted either in person or via video, were selected to confidentially explore the leadership traits and strategies of pharmacists. The study included twelve pharmacists, consisting of 7 males and 5 females, with varying levels of experience: 3 aspiring leaders, 5 current leaders, and 4 retired leaders. A fourteen-question interview guide was developed to investigate the key elements necessary for effective pharmacy leadership development. The guide was pilot tested with two pharmacists, whose responses were excluded from the final sample and subsequent analysis. Results: The study revealed significant disparities in the perceptions of leadership skills and personal characteristics among the different groups. The junior cohort, consisting of aspiring pharmacists, emphasized idealistic personal characteristics over practical skills. In contrast, current and retired leaders demonstrated a clear ability to differentiate between personal characteristics and essential skills. Furthermore, the study identified leadership development strategies grounded in the Saudi context, which were particularly resonant with both current and former leaders. Conclusions: The study examined the essential competencies and leadership development strategies for pharmacists aspiring to leadership roles, revealing notable disparities between early-career individuals and current or former leaders. Future research should focus on bridging these differences in perception and skills through targeted knowledge interventions.