Background: Leadership is arguably the most important theme in the social sciences, yet our understanding of the development of organisational leadership is still fragmented and incomplete.
Aim: We examine the psychometric properties of a leadership competency questionnaire to evaluate the reliability and validity of the instrument as a feedback tool for developing effective leader behaviour.
Setting: The questionnaire was administered on a South Africa sample (N = 133) of leaders-in-training that were part of management development programmes around the country.
Method: Data was collected via online surveys from a conveniently available pool of respondents. Classical item analysis as well as dimensionality analysis was performed on each of the questionnaire subscales. The measurement model was fitted via Structural Equation Modelling.
Results: Reliability analysis demonstrated that the instrument had high internal consistency in the sample. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the unidimensionality of all 9 subscales. The competency questionnaire measurement model obtained close fit in the parameter.
Conclusion: We provisionally conclude that the rating instrument provides a valid and reliable tool to measure and provide feedback on burgeoning leaders' standing on critical organisation-specific leadership competencies.
Contribution: The available evidence supports the permissibility of the use of the questionnaire to gauge management trainees' standing on the organisational leadership performance construct, and to provide them with formative feedback as part of an overarching performance review process in support of their leadership development journey.