Hybrid realities: the role of EDIB leadership in shaping ESG-aligned behaviour in digitally mediated teams

Holtappels, T, Christodoulou, I, Haj Youssef, M ORCID: 0000-0002-6011-1605, Christofi, M and Magrizos, S (2026) Hybrid realities: the role of EDIB leadership in shaping ESG-aligned behaviour in digitally mediated teams. Behaviour and Information Technology. ISSN 0144-929X

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Abstract

This study investigates how Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB) leadership practices in hybrid teams shape ESG-aligned behaviours and perceived outcomes, with a focus on sustainable and inclusive organisational performance. Using a qualitative case study approach, it draws on twelve semi-structured interviews with leaders across six industries to achieve three objectives: explore current EDIB practices in hybrid leadership, assess how these practices enable or hinder ESG implementation, and identify the most effective strategies for advancing ESG-related goals. Findings show that inclusive communication, flexible work arrangements, and empathetic leadership strongly support the Social pillar of ESG, while Governance and Environmental dimensions remain underdeveloped. Leaders promoting psychological safety and alignment with ESG values appear to generate stronger social impact, although formal structural integration remains limited. This study offers practice-oriented insights and proposes a leadership framework to guide inclusive, values-driven hybrid work environments towards more consistent and context-sensitive ESG alignment, particularly within the Social dimension.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	EDIB (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging); ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance); hybrid team leadership; digital leadership; remote work; sustainable leadership; 35 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services; 3507 Strategy, Management and Organisational Behaviour; Health Disparities and Racial or Ethnic Minority Health Research; Health Disparities; 08 Information and Computing Sciences; 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences; Human Factors; 3503 Business systems in context; 4608 Human-centred computing; 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HF Commerce > HF5001 Business H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races
Divisions:	Liverpool Business School
Publisher:	Taylor and Francis
Date of acceptance:	31 August 2026
Date of first compliant Open Access:	5 October 2026
Date Deposited:	05 Oct 2026 13:18
Last Modified:	05 Oct 2026 13:18
DOI or ID number:	10.1080/0144929X.2026.2729291
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/29602

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