Authentic leadership and work engagement: the mediating effect of practicing core values. Issue 2 (31st January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oh, Jihye; Cho, Daeyeon; Lim, Doo Hun
• Is Part Of: Leadership & organization development journal. Volume 39:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 276
• Page End: 290
• Publication Date: 2018-01-31
• Subjects: Work engagement -- Authentic leadership -- Practicing core values; Organizational change -- Periodicals; Leadership -- Periodicals; 658.4
• DOI: 10.1108/LODJ-02-2016-0030
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-7739

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating effect of practicing core values on the relationship between authentic leadership and work engagement in a Korean corporate environment. Design/methodology/approach: Self-report data on authentic leadership, practicing core values, and work engagement were obtained from 281 employees of three major corporations in South Korea. Structural equation modeling was adopted to analyze the data. Findings: The results revealed a direct and significant influence of authentic leadership on both practicing core values and work engagement. In addition, practicing core values was found to have a partial mediating effect on the relationship between authentic leadership and work engagement. Research limitations/implications: This study revealed a three-factor model of authentic leadership compared to the four-factor model found in western cultural contexts. Similar findings are indicated for other Asian countries. A rigorous future study is warranted to validate the psychometric structure across different cultural settings. Harman's single factor test was performed to address the common method variance issue. Practical implications: Practicing core values functioned as a catalyst for developing authentic leaders. Therefore, it is necessary that organizational development practitioners perform developmental activities to purposefully facilitate practicing core values. Originality/value: The study falls under the isolated or disregarded researched topic of the practicing core values in relation to authentic leadership and work engagement.