Authentic leadership and performance: the mediating role of employees’ affective commitment

Author(s):

Neuza Ribeiro , (CARME-Centre of Applied Research in Management and Economics, School of Technology and Management, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Leiria, Portugal)

Daniel Gomes , (CIC-Digital - Center for Research in Communication, Information and Digital Culture, School of Education (ESEC-IPC), Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal)

Shaji Kurian , (Business School, Institute of Finance and International Management, Bangalore, India)

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Abstract:

Purpose

This study aims to examine the relationship between authentic leadership (AL), affective commitment and individual performance. More specifically, this study aims to understand how AL influences employees’ affective commitment, how AL influences individual performance, how affective commitment influences individual performance and how affective commitment mediates the relationship between AL and individual performance.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 212 Portuguese employees participated in this study. A quantitative methodology was used. Baron and Kenny’s linear regression method and Sobel test were used to test the mediation relationship.

Findings

The results reveal that affective commitment mediates the relationship between AL and employees’ performance. In others words, leaders’ authenticity promotes employees’ affective commitment, which, in turn, increases their individual performance.

Practical implications

This research has practical implications for human resource management in organizations, particularly in selection processes and training of leaders and managers. Practitioners looking to increase employee commitment and performance can do so by augmenting the AL.

Originality/value

This study enriches the knowledge about the relevance of emerging areas such as AL theory and responds to the need to understand underlying mechanisms linking AL with workers’ commitment and performance (i.e. testing the construct’s nomological network).

Keywords:

Affective commitment, Mediation, Authentic leadership, Individual performance

Type:

Research Paper

Publisher:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Received:

28 June 2017

Revised:

28 July 2017, 08 October 2017

Accepted:

18 October 2017

Copyright:

© Emerald Publishing Limited 2018
Published by Emerald Publishing Limited
Licensed re-use rights only

Citation:

Neuza Ribeiro, Daniel Gomes, Shaji Kurian, (2018) "Authentic leadership and performance: the mediating role of employees’ affective commitment", Social Responsibility Journal, Vol. 14 Issue: 1, pp.213-225, https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-06-2017-0111

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