On Demand, but When? Scrutinizing Leadership on Demand Based on the Follower-Centric Leadership Approaches

The main purpose of this research is to determine when and under what conditions followers, especially knowledge workers, are in need of leaders. In order to achieve this aim, the “Leadership on Demand Scale” was developed. The research population consists of middle- and upper-level engineers working in businesses operating in the private sector. The developed scale is a 5-point Likert-type measurement tool consisting of 4 sub-dimensions and a total of 36 items. Regarding the structure of the scale, the sub-dimensions of Technical and Social Issues (α = 0.858), Personal Life Issues (α = 0.882), Perception of Managerial Behavior (α = 0.807), and Interaction (α = 0.705) were found to be reliable. The content validity of the scale was ensured through expert opinions, with careful attention given to covering all sub-dimensions of the concept. Construct validity was evaluated using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) to determine whether the scale accurately measures the theoretical construct. Based on the study results, suggestions were provided for the leaders working with and through knowledge worker followers.