Assessing leadership in hybrid work: developing a comprehensive framework for leader-follower dynamics

The rise of hybrid work environments has fundamentally altered leadership dynamics, challenging traditional models of leader-follower interactions, feedback mechanisms, and employee development. Existing leadership assessment tools, such as the Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) Questionnaire, Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ), and Coaching Behaviour Questionnaire (CBQ) were developed for either fully in-person or fully remote settings, leaving critical gaps in understanding leadership effectiveness when asynchronous communication and fragmented relational contexts are present. Our conceptual paper addresses the limitations of these traditional instruments in capturing hybrid leader behaviours. Drawing from transdisciplinary research in organisational behaviour, psychology, and leadership studies, we propose the ALIGN Questionnaire as a novel conceptual and measurement framework tailored to hybrid working environments. The questionnaire integrates validated elements from existing leadership scales while incorporating hybrid-specific constructs (like one-to-one meeting design, leader availability across modalities or interaction frequency) essential for HRD outcomes. By operationalising these underexplored dimensions, our framework provides a more nuanced evaluation of leadership effectiveness. This tool is designed to support HRD professionals and oragnizations in identifying potential disparities, refining leadership development strategies, and supporting equitable inclustion policies in hybrid settings. As a timely and context-specific approach to advancing leadership assessment, it helps organisational practices remain relevant in contemporary hybrid realities.