Promoting Inclusive Workplaces: Conceptualizing and Measuring Inclusive Leadership in Public Organizations

Original

Promoting Inclusive Workplaces: Conceptualizing and Measuring Inclusive Leadership in Public Organizations

Tanachia S. Ashikali, Mads Pieter Van Luttervelt

Abstract

ABSTRACT Inclusive leadership has become a central theme in public management research to foster equity and workplace inclusiveness. While prior studies demonstrate its potential to enhance inclusiveness, psychological safety, and performance, existing conceptualizations and measures remain fragmented, emphasizing leader attitudes rather than observable behaviors. This article addresses these gaps by advancing a behavior‐focused conceptualization of inclusive leadership, grounded in an inclusivity perspective and an integration‐and‐learning perspective. Inclusive leadership is defined as leader behaviors that seek to enable employees' full participation in work processes by supporting employees in balancing needs for uniqueness and belongingness and by stimulating the exchange, discussion, and integration of diverse perspectives. Building on this, a two‐dimensional measurement is developed and validated through cognitive interviews and surveys among Dutch public employees ( N = 304) and Danish upper secondary school teachers ( N = 1275). The scale enables systematic assessment of inclusive leadership and its outcomes across contexts and diversity types.