Can authentic leadership survive the downturn?

Citation

(2009), "Can authentic leadership survive the downturn?", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 17 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/hrmid.2009.04417fad.003

Can authentic leadership survive the downturn?

Article Type: Abstracts From: Human Resource Management International Digest, Volume 17, Issue 6

Blausten P. Business Strategy Review (UK), Spring 2009, Vol. 20 No. 1, Start page: 84, No. of pages: 4

Purpose – Explains the importance of authentic leadership in difficult economic times. Design/methodology/approach – Defines what authentic leadership is in terms of personal commitment, and of handling team members under pressure from performance requirements and adverse business conditions. Reports on a survey of human resources directors in ten FTSE 100 companies on the subject of adverse business conditions and their effect on the relationship between front-line leaders and their teams. Findings – The downturn will focus attention on the performance of senior executives, but attending to leadership among front-line managers is also important; this is because of their impact on employees and on customer expectation fulfillment. First-line managers’ expectations of team members are likely to be seen by them as unfair on a range of issues, and authentic leadership is likely to be undermined if first-line managers appear to be acting inconsistently with employees’ interpretation of corporate value statements. Managers are in a dilemma, since the behaviors, which they were encouraged to master in the good times are hard to reconcile with the tougher expectations they now have to require of their teams; as a result, they may compromise or opt out and leave. Practical implications – It is vital for first-line managers to communicate and to be open and honest, and to challenge any u-turns by the leadership, but they themselves need to be kept engaged in seeking solutions, and they may require coaching and retraining. Originality/value – Shows the problems for CEOs: if authentic leadership fails in the recession, first-line managers will lose faith in the values and mission of their top executives, yet the need to have confidence in leaders and institutions is greater than ever during economic recessions. ISSN: 0955-6419 Reference: 38AJ204

Keywords: Leaders, Leadership, Managers