The Determinantity of Inclusive Leadership Behaviors on Work Engagement: A Research in The Field of Special Education

Abstract

The aim of the research is to reveal the effect of inclusive leadership be-haviors on the engagament of employees to work. The research was con-ducted with the participation of 348 teachers working in the field of special education. Leadership has an effect on different dynamics at both organiza-tional and individual levels. Especially when the positive or negative multi-level effects created by the leadership approach are considered, the impor-tance of this situation in the field of special education increases conside-rably. In organizations where an inclusive management approach is adop-ted, the high job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and tendency to exhibit organizational citizenship behaviors of employees are some of the positive effects. In addition, when an inclusive management approach is not adopted, the stress, burnout, and absenteeism experienced by employees are among the negative factors. In this context, in order to increase the observa-bility of positive effects, the field of special education points out the need for diversity management and an inclusive management approach. An inclusi-ve management approach is important in terms of retaining qualified emp-loyees in the field, encouraging them to exhibit sincere, courteous, genuine and selfless behaviors, and keeping their morale and motivation high. Wit-hin the scope of the determined purpose, it was decided that the appropria-te management for the research was quantitative and data were obtained through scale forms. A model was designed to reveal the effect of emplo-yees' perception of inclusive leadership behaviors on work engagement, and structural equation modeling was used to test the hypotheses developed based on this model. The findings of the research show that employees' per-ception of inclusive leadership behaviors has a significant and positive effect on work engagement, in other words, the perception of teachers working in the field of special education that the administrator exhibits inclusive beha-viors is a significant determinant of their work engagement.