Measuring Leadership Quotient in Educational Leaders: Development and Validation of the ZION Instrument

This study aimed to develop and validate the Leadership Quotient (LQ) Instrument for educational leaders. Specifically, it sought to identify key competencies based on established leadership frameworks, determine the underlying factors through exploratory factor analysis (EFA), assess the instrument's reliability and validity, and examine the relationships among the identified leadership factors. The EFA results revealed three key factors of leadership: Strategic Leadership and Decision-Making, Adaptability and Change Management, and Interpersonal Leadership. The instrument demonstrated high internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha values ​​exceeding 0.70. Additionally, the LQ showed strong convergent validity with the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) (r = 0.998, p < .001). The study successfully developed a reliable and valid tool for assessing educational leaders' competencies. The findings suggest that leadership effectiveness in education depends on a balance of strategic vision, adaptability, and interpersonal skills.