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Inclusive leadership as a valid assessment center dimension

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 May 2024

Anna N. Hoover*
Affiliation:
George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
Deborah E. Rupp
Affiliation:
George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
*
Corresponding author: Anna N. Hoover; Email: anottin@gmu.edu

Abstract

As organizations are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of selecting inclusive leaders, this paper proposes measuring inclusive leadership proficiency as an assessment center (AC) dimension. We propose that ACs present a novel way to effectively assess inclusive leadership using interpersonal behavioral simulation exercises, such as role plays. It is argued that AC-measured inclusive leadership can provide incremental prediction of leader performance beyond commonly assessed AC dimensions; and that it positively predicts follower performance and follower demographic diversity. We conclude by suggesting ways future research might empirically investigate the validity and reliability of AC-measured inclusive leadership in organizational settings.

Type
Focal Article
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology

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