Effects of Authentic Leadership on Follower's Attitudes and Behaviors: Developing and Testing of an Integrated Model.

Abstract

The aim of the study is to investigate the evolving role of authentic leadership in the organizational spheres. In line, the objectives of the research is to develop and test of an integrated framework of authentic leadership, and consequently estimated its effects on follower’s performance related outcomes. However, the specific objective of the study is to find out the impact of authentic leadership on follower’s performance through positive emotions. In this regard, the construct of positive emotions was taken into consideration as a sequential mediator for the examination of causality among authentic leadership and followers’ performance and the role of positive emotions were unfolded, as the literature suggested to measure sequential mediating path among the constructs. Furthermore, a new conception of relational identification has been introduced and its impact is also sequentially examined. In addition, happiness, gratitude, elevation, compassion and pride emotions were considered as sequential mediators in the relation of authentic leadership and employee’s behaviors. Considering the objectives of the study, positivist research philosophy was adopted using deductive approach. The data were collected from three hundred and sixty-four respondents working in the public organizations of Pakistan, specifically upstream organizations working under the umbrella of petroleum sector. For the collection of data, purposive sampling technique was used. Model estimation was done using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) on AMOS. All the necessary pre-requisites of model estimation, i.e. assumptions of regression were fulfilled. Subsequently, twenty-nine hypothesized causal paths were determined, in which only two causal paths were not supported. The attained results manifestly accepted the established hypotheses. Future directions suggested to include personality traits as moderators, and to measure dimensional effect of authentic leadership. The limitations of the study and implications are also discussed which would be beneficial for human resource professionals and researchers. Key Words: Authentic leadership, relational identification, compassion, pride, elevation, happiness, gratitude, employee engagement, task performance, contextual performance, creative performance, sequential mediation