Is inclusive leadership a journey through tolerance, acceptance, value and celebration? – An exploratory study

Purpose This paper aims to explore the factors that contribute to inclusive leadership (IL) through the lens of leaders and further segregate these factors into four levels to highlight the attributes required at each level in an inclusive leader’s growth journey. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a qualitative research method comprising 31 in-depth interviews with managers across various domains to comprehend their views on traits of an inclusive leader. Findings This paper provides valuable insights into the vital characteristics of an inclusive leader. The study demonstrates that an inclusive leader’s journey moves from tolerance to acceptance, value, and finally celebration. Leaders need to continuously work on their awareness, efforts, accommodation, openness and cultural intelligence to become truly inclusive. Leaders who appreciate diversity and embrace inclusion create a workplace that impacts employees positively and subsequently influences engagement, performance and productivity of the workforce. Practical implications This study will promote awareness and understanding amongst practitioners about critical attributes of inclusive leaders and how organizations can facilitate leaders’ journey in becoming truly inclusive leaders. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first attempt to explore the conceptualization of IL through various levels of inclusion (tolerance, acceptance, value and celebration) leading to maturity and growth as an inclusive leader.