Chapter 9: Authentic Leadership

Chapter 9: Authentic Leadership
Overview
 Authentic Leadership Description
 Authentic Leadership Defined
 Approaches to Authentic Leadership
 Practical
 Theoretical
 How does Authentic Leadership Theory Work?
Peter G. Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice, Seventh Edition. © 2016 SAGE Publications, Inc.
Authentic Leadership Description
• Authentic Leadership – focuses on whether leadership is genuine
• Interest in Authentic Leadership

• Increasing in recent times due to social upheavals
• People longing for trustworthy leaders
• Identified earlier in transformational leadership research but not studied
separately
• Needed evidence-based research of construct
Authentic Leadership Defined
• Intrapersonal Definition:
• Leadership based on self-concept and how self-concept relates to actions
(Shamir & Eilam, 2005)
• Relies on the life story of the leader
• Three Authentic Leadership Characteristics:
• ALs exhibit genuine leadership
• ALs lead from conviction
• ALs are originals, not copies
• Interpersonal Definition:
• Leadership is created by leaders and followers together (Eagly,

2005)
• It is a reciprocal process because leaders affect followers and

followers affect leaders
• Developmental Definition:
• Leadership can be nurtured and developed over a lifetime (Avolio &
Gardner, 2005)
• Can be triggered by major life events
• Leader behavior is grounded in positive psychological qualities and strong
ethics
• Four authentic leadership components:

• Self-awareness
• Internalized moral perspective
• Balanced processing
• Relational transparency
Practical Approaches to Authentic Leadership
• Bill George (2003, 2007)

• Leader characteristic model
• Leaders have genuine desire to serve others
• Five characteristics of authentic leaders
• Understand their purpose
• Strong values
• Trusting relationships
• Self-discipline
• Act from the heart (mission)
Theoretical Approaches to Authentic Leadership
Recent Research Spurred By

• Leadership summit publications (2005)
• Social upheaval and desire for leadership that serves the common good
• Need to explore meaning of authentic leadership and create theoretical

framework
• Need to define the construct of authentic leadership
Definition of Authentic Leadership
“A pattern that draws upon and promotes both positive psychological

capacities and a positive ethical climate, to foster greater self-
awareness, an internalized moral perspective, balanced processing of
information, and relational transparency on the part of leaders working
with followers, fostering positive self-development.”
-Walumbwa, Avolio, Gardner, Wernsing, & Peterson, 2008
Basic Model of Authentic Leadership
FOUR COMPONENTS
 Self-awareness
 Reflecting on one’s core values, identity, emotions, motives
 Being aware of and trusting one’s own feelings
 Internalized moral perspective
 Self-regulatory process using internal moral standards to guide behavior
 Balanced processing
 Ability to analyze information objectively and explore other people’s
opinions before making a decision
 Relational transparency
 Being open and honest in presenting one’s true self to others
Factors That Influence Authentic Leadership
• Positive psychological capacities

• Confidence
• Hope
• Optimism
• Resilience
• Moral Reasoning Capacities
• Deciding right and wrong
• Promoting justice, greater good of the organization or community
Factors That Influence Authentic
Leadership
Critical Life Events

- Positive or negative
• Act as a catalyst for change
• People attach insights to their life experiences
• When people tell life stories they gain clarity about who they are
• Stimulate personal growth
How Does Authentic Leadership Theory Work?
 Strengths
 Criticisms
 Application
How Does Authentic Leadership Theory Work?
• AL is a complex, developmental process

• The practical approaches are prescriptive:
 George (2003) – Five characteristics leaders need to be authentic
• Theoretical approach describes what accounts for AL:
 Four attributes
 Attributes developed over lifetime, often through critical events
Strengths
• Fulfills society’s expressed need for trustworthy leadership. Fills a void in an

uncertain world.
• Provides broad guidelines for those who want to become authentic leaders.
Both practical and theoretical approaches provide a map.
• Like transformational and servant leadership, AL has an explicit moral
dimension.
• Unlike traits that only some people exhibit, everyone can learn to be more
authentic.
• Can be measured using an established instrument (ALQ).
Criticisms
• The theory is still in the formative stages, so some concepts in the practical
approaches are not fully developed or substantiated.
• The moral component of AL is not fully explained. It’s unclear how higher
values such as justice inform authentic leadership.
• The rationale for including positive psychological capacities as a part of AL
has not been clearly explained by researchers.
• The link between authentic leadership and positive organizational
outcomes is unclear. It is also not clear whether AL is sufficient to achieve
organizational goals.
Application
• People have the capacity to become authentic leaders. It is a lifelong

learning process.
• Human resource departments may be able to foster authentic leadership
behaviors in employees who move into leadership positions.
• Leaders are always trying to do the “right” thing, to be honest with
themselves and others, and to work for the common good.
• Leaders are shaped by critical life events that lead to growth and greater
authenticity.

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Chapter 9: Authentic Leadership

 Authentic Leadership Description

 Authentic Leadership Defined

 Approaches to Authentic Leadership

 How does Authentic Leadership Theory Work?

• Authentic Leadership – focuses on whether leadership is genuine

• Interest in Authentic Leadership

• Leadership is created by leaders and followers together (Eagly,

• It is a reciprocal process because leaders affect followers and

• Four authentic leadership components:

• Bill George (2003, 2007)

Recent Research Spurred By

• Need to explore meaning of authentic leadership and create theoretical

• Need to define the construct of authentic leadership

“A pattern that draws upon and promotes both positive psychological

• Positive psychological capacities

Critical Life Events

• Act as a catalyst for change

• People attach insights to their life experiences

• Stimulate personal growth

• AL is a complex, developmental process

• Fulfills society’s expressed need for trustworthy leadership. Fills a void in an

• People have the capacity to become authentic leaders. It is a lifelong

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