Inclusive Leadership- What does it take to be an inclusive leader?

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2022-08-31

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en

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This paper focuses on Inclusive leadership. Leaders, as role models and change agents, have a strong position to foster inclusive work environment. However, with limited research, there is little information on the perspectives of leaders on inclusion, inclusive leadership and factors that can enable or restrict to inclusive leaders. This study aims to provide insights into constructions of leaders and answer the question: How do leaders’ construct inclusion and inclusive leadership at workplace? What are the facilitators and barriers to inclusive leadership? To answer the research question, a deductive and exploratory approach was adopted for methodology. Data for the qualitative study was collected through in-depth interviews of 27 leaders in a multinational company based in the Netherlands. Open ended questions were designed to gather an in-depth understanding of leaders’ constructions on inclusion, inclusive leadership and factors that facilitate or restrict inclusive leadership. The template analysis method was used to finalise the thematic codes. The findings highlight that leader say they drive inclusion by demonstrating inclusive leadership at multiple levels. They also claim that they demonstrate inclusive leadership behaviours by fostering uniqueness, strengthening belongingness, and supporting the organisation’s efforts. Based on the findings, this study provides practical recommendations to the multinational company.

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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen