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Authentic Leadership Effect on Workplace Spirituality: A Quantitative Evaluation

Abstract

Organization leaders must contribute to the whole person. Therefore, this dissertation researched the impact of authentic leadership on workplace spirituality from the perspective of the employees by asking the following question: Does authentic leadership positively affect workplace spirituality? Based on Ashmos and Duchon’s (2000) Spirituality at Work Scale and Neider and Schriesheim’s (2011) Authentic Leadership Inventory, this researcher proposed that the constructs of an employee’s perception of authentic leadership (relational transparency, internal moral perspective, self-awareness, and balanced processing) were positively related to the constructs of an employee’s self-report of workplace spirituality (inner self, meaningful work, and sense of community and connectedness). SurveyMonkey was used to survey a random sampling of employees from the Augusta, GA area. A multiple regression analysis was conducted using a survey constructed from the Authentic Leadership Inventory and Workplace Spirituality scales. The questionnaires received 156 respondents with 118 completed results, meeting the reliability amount established by Hair, Black, Babin, and Anderson (2010), where they recommended studies should include 15 to 20 participants per variable for multiple regression. They stated that regression analysis was useful to most areas of business strategy and planning. The independent variables were relational transparency, internal moral perspective, self-awareness, and balanced processing, and the dependent variables used included inner self, meaningful work, and sense of community and connectedness with control variables of gender, age, and tenure. Gender was significant for all variables, and age for some. Although most of the hypotheses were rejected, these findings opened opportunities for more research and study into the subject. Two hypotheses showed a significance in an authentic leader’s self-awareness and internal moral perspective impact on the employee’s meaningful work factor in workplace spirituality. This dissertation adds to the literature and research to assist organizations in reflecting on the type of leadership that lends to an employee’s workplace spirituality.

Identifying Leadership Development Needs of Dental Hygienists Using an Online Delphi Technique

Abstract

Leadership is necessary for many aspects of the dental hygiene profession, including research, patient care, education, public health, and in regulatory and governmental affairs. Although dental hygiene research consistently demands the “need to develop leadership” within the dental hygiene profession, the amount of planned and intentional leadership education/training for dental hygienists is limited. The purpose of this online Delphi was to investigate the opinions of dental hygienists to understand leadership needs of dental hygienist and preferences of how the leadership skills should be developed. The study included dental hygienists with expertise in 7 areas of dental hygiene, clinical dental hygiene, administration, education, public health, entrepreneur, corporate, and research. Through the evolution of the online Delphi using a crowdsourcing platform, the most critical leadership skills and leadership skills development preferences were identified. The most critical leadership skill identified for dental hygienists was the ability to work with others at all levels, including speaking, writing, listening, and compromising when necessary for the overall good. The study showed that dental hygienists preferred leadership development delivered using a multi-prong approach that included effective training modules, seminars, books/videos and collaboration with mentors, coaches, and role models, while catering to an individual’s learning style. As dental hygienists develop leadership frameworks, sustainable leadership strategies should be interwoven into the methods by which leadership is imparted. By strengthening leadership, the profession of dental hygiene will have an influence on health systems to improve and influence oral and overall health.

Unearthing the Definition and Attributes of Peace Leadership: An Exploratory Holistic Bounded Case Study

Abstract

This dissertation is an exploratory holistic bounded case study that used empirical research methods to construct the definition of peace leadership and unearth its attributes. The need for evidence-based research in the field of peace leadership is great (Alomair, 2016; McIntyre Miller & Green, 2015; Ricke-Kiely, 2016; Van Zyl & Campbell, 2018). While the concept of peace leadership exists, it has been a neglected field of inquiry and, therefore, has not been thoroughly developed or empirically examined. This study used a triple tier process by utilizing three different data collection approaches to create the holistic research design to unearth the definition of peace leadership and its attributes, which involved conducting and analyzing in-depth interviews and a focus group discussion of individuals who have worked for or with a peace leader, as well as an autobiographical selection of a peace leader identified through literature. Additionally, multiple coding methods and coding cycles were utilized in the qualitative data analytic (QDA) process. These included: Descriptive, Initial, In Vivo, Holistic, and Middle Order Coding for the first cycle of coding, followed by Axial and Focused Coding for the second cycle. The results were then triangulated to test for consistency and cross verification from all three methods, which provided stronger validity and reliability (Creswell, 2014; Gay, Mills, & Airasian, 2011; Patton, 2015). As this study provides raw data from real-world context, it serves as a resource for scholars and practitioners, who are interested in peace leadership, and can be used for future research in addition to leader development. By studying peace leadership through specific research methodology, evidence-based findings are now provided for scholars and practitioners to gain a better understanding of peace leadership upon which they will be able to build.

Relationship Between Followers

Abstract

Having a better understanding of how to comprehend a follower’s perceptions of a leader’s authentic leadership ability is advantageous as organizational success is often dependent upon the leader’s actions or behaviors being understood (Kirshman, 2005). This study explored how authentic leadership behaviors are perceived by a leader’s followers regarding job involvement and organizational commitment. Using entrepreneurial organizations located in western Michigan as respondents to the research questions results indicated there is a connection between the followers’ perception of authentic leadership behaviors as these perceptions relate to an increase in a followers’ job involvement and to the followers’ organizational commitment. The intent of this study was to determine if a followers’ perception of a leader’s authentic leadership behaviors will positively affect a followers’ level of job involvement and organizational commitment. This study provides insight to the need to better understand how when an entrepreneurial leader displaying authentic leadership practices may have an opportunity to enhance their business.

Key words: Authentic Leadership, Job Involvement and Organizational Commitment

Considering the Impact of Leadership Succession in Hebrews 13:7-19: A Study of Global Christian Leaders

Abstract

Reflecting on the characteristics of leadership, the Bible becomes a rich source that accounts for both the positive and the negative. Keeping this in mind, one area in which most biblical leaders seem to have failed is that of raising effective successors—a challenge that continues up until the present day in both the ecclesial domain and the greater organizational environment. Few scholars have engaged this challenge from a scriptural point of view. Of these, none have addressed the reference to succession found in Hebrews 13:7-19. The narrative setting is that of second-generation church leaders, who are encouraged to follow in the footsteps of the first. What were the key considerations conveyed to them, and what validity does it hold for modern day society? Consequently, the methodological approach to the study is twofold. First, a firm and credible understanding of the textual reference is gained through sociorhetorical analysis—more specifically, the methods of intertextual criticism and social and cultural criticism. The outcome of the exegetical study is the articulation of six interview questions. Following on the exegetical component, an in-depth qualitative approach has been employed, incorporating elements from both phenomenology and case study, to gain insight into modern-day relationships between Christian leader predecessors and successors. Triangulation is also utilized that explores the biblical interpretation of the text, correlating and contrasting views of the interviewed participants, and various perspectives amongst the church and other Christian organizational leaders. The results presented not only contribute to the foundation of a Bible-based succession planning model but also open the way for further quantitative research into the phenomenon of leadership succession.

The Impact of Entrepreneurial Leadership on Authentic Followership in Nigeria and the United States

Abstract

This study examined the impact of entrepreneurial leadership on authentic followership due to calls for more research on both constructs. The control variables for the relationship were gender, the position of the follower, and whether the evaluated leader was a founder or not to investigate the impact of entrepreneurial leadership on authentic followership in Nigeria and the United States. The research question was: Does the perceived entrepreneurial leadership of a leader have any impact on the internalized moral perspective, relational transparency, self-awareness, and psychological ownership components of the authentic followership of employees in Nigeria and United States? This study measured the perceived entrepreneurial leadership behaviors exhibited by founders and leaders of an organization utilizing the ENTRELEAD scale developed by Renko, El Tarabishy, Carsrud, and Brännback (2015), while the authentic followership scale by VanWhy (2015) measured the authentic followership of the employee. The impact of entrepreneurial leadership on authentic followership was analyzed using multiple regression analysis from a sample size of 257 participants (119 Nigeria, 138 United States) from a random list of startups, nonprofit, corporate, and educational organizations. Four hypotheses were presented to test the research question to determine the impact of perceived entrepreneurial leadership on authentic followership in Nigeria and the United States. The findings indicated that entrepreneurial leadership impacted authentic followership in both countries in the areas of relational transparency and self-awareness dimensions; however, the relationship was partially accepted in Nigeria when it came to psychological ownership and internalized moral perspective due to differences inposition of the participants.

Servant Leadership Theory: A Comparative Study Between University Students from Nigeria and the United States

Abstract

This exploratory study examined the theoretical servant leadership variables of agapao love, humility, altruism, trust, empowerment, and service (Patterson, 2003) between university students from Nigeria and the United States who evaluated their teachers as servant leaders. Simple and multiple regression analyses were used to test the correlations between these seven variables in teachers as servant leaders in both Nigeria and the United States to determine their servant leadership perceptions. A t-test analysis was used to answer the research questions relating to the servant leadership cultures of both Nigeria and the United States. The results of this study provided a new leadership model for Nigeria and perhaps for other sub-Sahara African countries that have not adopted servant leadership praxis in their organizational leadership. Participants (n = 458) were university students from Year 1 to Year 4 who evaluated the perceptions of their teachers as servant leaders in both countries utilizing a data collection questionnaire developed by Dennis and Bocarnea (2005) on the servant leadership model of Patterson (2003). Six research hypotheses were developed for each of these countries’ leadership cultures. Seven research questions guided this study to answer the organizational leadership cultural differences relative to gender in both Nigeria and the United States. This study highlighted the differences in servant leadership cultures that exit between Nigeria and the United States in the context of Patterson servant leadership theory.

Exploring the Experiences of Women Leaders in the Nuclear Power Industry

Abstract

This qualitative study explored the experiences of women leaders and nonleaders working in the nuclear power industry. This study used a phenomenological approach, using in-depth interviews with an interview guide to explore the experiences of participants. A purposeful sampling technique was used to recruit four women leaders and four women nonleaders to participate in the study. Data was collected through conducting in-depth interviews using an interview guide. Interview responses were analyzed using the first cycle coding methods of structural, descriptive, In Vivo, and values coding to generate 44 codes. The second cycle coding methods of focused and pattern coding were then used to arrange the codes into 12 themes including: culture, education, environment, glass ceiling, motivation, networks, nuclear power, self-efficacy, support, technical skills, women in nuclear, and work-life balance. Responses painted a picture of a changing industry where women are still in the minority, particularly in leadership positions. The early culture was dominated by a ‘good old boys’ mentality with limited opportunities for women but the culture is changing to be more inclusive with opportunities for women. Networks and support were highlighted as key elements for women to be successful in this industry. Insights into opportunities for nuclear power companies to recruit more women include supporting STEM programs and internships for women. An important insight for nuclear power companies is the need to address work-life balance challenges to encourage more women to work in this industry and to pursue management and leadership positions. This study provides insights for nuclear power companies to address existing challenges and encourage more women to work in this industry and pursue leadership positions.

Identification and Measurement of Servant Leadership in Early Childhood: Parent Perspectives

Abstract

Considering the notion posited by the grandfather of servant leadership that leadership traits were found in children as early as preschool, this study set out to identify and measure servant leadership scientifically in early childhood, as defined by the Division for Early Childhood and the National Association for the Education of Young Children, using parent perspectives. The study was based on an adaptation of the Servant Leadership Behavioral Scale because of its reliability above other servant leadership instruments. As part of the study, parents had a chance to rate their children using a 32-item Likert like scale. The results were analyzed, which resulted in a 10-item, two-factor scale that identified and measured ethical transforming influence and a call to service in children ages 4 through 8. This study was particularly significant because although leaders spent billions of dollars on leadership development, there continued to be a lack of ethical, caring, and effective leaders globally. The study was the first to consider the identification and measurement of servant leadership in early childhood for developing leadership during the most developmentally active stage of an individual’s life. The study had some shortcomings that limited its reliability and generalizability. Some of the shortcomings included the sample size and sample demographics, which although minimally enough, carried opportunities to strengthen the research. The study suggested additional research for validation and generalization, and it proposed leveraging this work for the development of more ethical, caring, and effective leadership.

An Examination of the Role of the Ethical and Moral Aspects of Servant Leadership in the Development of Restorative Justice in Organizations through a Socio-Rhetorical Analysis of Isaiah 42:1-9 and Matthew 12:15-21

Abstract

Ethical and moral leadership act as the cornerstones to effective organizational dynamics. Servant leaders are endowed with these characteristics, as well as the call to place others’ needs before their own. The purpose of this study was to consider the utilization of restorative justice as written in Isaiah 42:1-9 and Matthew 12:15-21. Isaiah prophesied of the coming Servant that would bring justice to the nations, and Matthew 12:15-21 echoed Isaiah’s words, indicating the prophecy had been fulfilled. In the Servant’s proper interpretation of God’s law, Jesus taught of the merciful and restorative nature of God. I uncovered 5 fundamental principles regarding morals, ethics, servant leadership, and restorative justice: (a) The Servant’s call to restorative justice is inclusive, (b) the servant leader is morally and ethically driven, (c) the servant leader considers social and cultural ideologies while creating organizational norms reflecting servant characteristics, (d) the servant leader champions restorative justice in organizations, and (e) servant leaders extol and exercise righteousness. Jesus, the foretold and fulfilled Servant, provides a model for modern day servant leaders to not only empower but also to restore people to right relationships with one another, as well as with the communal organization of which they operate.