| Authentic leadership (AL) models, particularly those espoused by Walumbwa, Avolio, Gardner, Wernsing, and Peterson (2008), argue that AL is a multidimensional construct. Utilizing a sample of 119 leaders and 530 of their followers primarily from the automotive industry, the current study examined the dimensionality of the Authentic Leadership Questionnaire. Although the four first-order factors was the best fitting model in CFA, it was only marginally better than the single second-order model. High correlations among the four dimensions were found, suggesting a high degree of commonality. A supplemental EFA found a single general factor of AL. The study also examined the relationship of leader core self-evaluation (CSE), character, and narcissism to AL. Although no statistically significant relationship was found between leaders' self-rated CSE and followers' ratings of their leaders' AL, when post-hoc analyses were performed providing for either leader-only or follower-only ratings on both constructs, CSE was found to be a statistically significant predictor of AL. Positive character traits (as measured by the Leadership Virtues Questionnaire) were found to have a statistically significant relationship with AL. Narcissism was statistically insignificant in relation to AL. Implications for AL models and suggestions for future research are discussed. |
