People-First, Value-Centered (PFVC) Leadership Behaviors Survey: A Novel Instrument for Assessing Idealized Leadership Practices

As workforce expectations shift toward purpose, belonging, and meaningful engagement, leadership assessment tools must evolve. This study introduces the People-First, Value-Centered (PFVC) Leadership Behaviors Survey, a new instrument assessing leadership through two key constructs: People-First (empathy, empowerment, relationship-building) and Value-Centered (accountability, role modeling, transparency, vision, stewardship). Grounded in transformational and servant leadership theories, the PFVC survey explores the motivations behind leadership behaviors.
A quantitative pilot study with 394 U.S.-based employees validated the survey. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) confirmed strong construct validity, with factors explaining over 70% of variance. Reliability was high (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.896 for People-First, 0.860 for Value-Centered). Correlations with Bass & Avolio’s (1995) Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire further validated its effectiveness.
The PFVC survey offers a fresh approach to leadership assessment, aligning behaviors with employee expectations. With applications across industries like healthcare and juvenile justice, future research will expand its validation and impact on organizational success.