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Relationships between Authentic Leadership, Moral Courage, and Ethical and Pro-Social Behaviors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 January 2015

Sean T. Hannah ,
Bruce J. Avolio  and
Fred O. Walumbwa
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Abstract:

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Organizations constitute morally-complex environments, requiring organization members to possess levels of moral courage sufficient to promote their ethical action, while refraining from unethical actions when faced with temptations or pressures. Using a sample drawn from a military context, we explored the antecedents and consequences of moral courage. Results from this four-month field study demonstrated that authentic leadership was positively related to followers’ displays of moral courage. Further, followers’ moral courage fully mediated the effects of authentic leadership on followers’ ethical and pro-social behaviors. Theoretical and practical implications for further integrating the work on moral courage, authentic leadership and ethics are discussed.

Type
Articles
Information
Business Ethics Quarterly , Volume 21 , Issue 4 , October 2011 , pp. 555 - 578
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Business Ethics 2011

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