Authentic Leadership: Development and Validation of a Theory-Based Measure

Authors

• Fred Walumbwa, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZFollow
• Bruce Avolio, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
• William Gardner, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
• Tara Wernsing, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
• Suzanne Peterson, Arizona State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2-2008

Comments

Published in Journal of Management 34:1 (February 2008), pp. 89-126; doi 10.1177/0149206307308913 Copyright © 2008 Southern Management Association, published by SAGE Publications. Used by permission.

Abstract

This study developed and tested a theory-based measure of authentic leadership using five separate samples obtained from China, Kenya, and the United States. Confirmatory factor analyses supported a higher order, multidimensional model of the authentic leadership construct (the Authentic Leadership Questionnaire [ALQ]) comprising leader self-awareness, relational transparency, internalized moral perspective, and balanced processing. Structural equation modeling (SEM) demonstrated the predictive validity for the ALQ measure for important work-related attitudes and behaviors, beyond what ethical and transformational leadership offered. Finally, results revealed a positive relationship between authentic leadership and supervisor-rated performance. Implications for research and practice are discussed.