Inclusive Leadership in China: A Three-Factor Framework

Abstract

Inclusive leadership is becoming hot in diversity management in recent years. This study argues that the understanding of inclusive leadership in different cultural situations (e.g., China) can be conceptually distinct from that in the West. Based on interviews with 40 employees, Study 1 developed a three-factor framework of inclusive leadership consisting of Openness, Acceptance, and Tolerance. Study 2 examined the construct validity of it, and results (N = 514) demonstrated that the three factors, named Openness, Acceptance, and Tolerance, can be differentiated from each other. Study 3 tested the nomological validity of inclusive leadership, and results revealed that these three factors were positively related to employees’ trust in leaders and their organizational performance significantly. Finally, implications for practice and future research are discussed.