Objective: To investigate the role of authentic leadership and its relationship with employee engagement, satisfaction, and organizational citizenship behavior, emphasizing the mediating effect of trust within Brazilian transnational companies.
Approach: The survey analyzed data collected from a sample of Brazilian transnational companies to explore the dynamics between authentic leadership, trust, and employee outcomes. In the analysis, we use Structural Equation Modeling to assess path coefficients, internal validity and the mediating role of trust.
Findings: The results confirm the critical role of trust in enhancing employee engagement, satisfaction, and positive organizational behaviors. Trust-based relationships were found to be essential for achieving high organizational performance.
Research Limitations: The study is limited to Brazilian transnational companies, which may affect the generalizability of the findings to other contexts or industries. Further research could examine similar dynamics in different cultural or organizational settings.
Practical Implications: The findings highlight the importance of cultivating authentic leadership and fostering an environment of trust to enhance organizational outcomes. Organizations should prioritize leadership development programs and trust-building initiatives.
Social Implications: The study sheds light on the potential of ethical leadership practices to combat the effects of corruption and unethical behavior in regions like Brazil, fostering more transparent and ethical organizational cultures.
Theoretical Implications: This research enriches the literature by elucidating the link between authentic leadership, trust, and employee outcomes, particularly within a context affected by systemic corruption and unethical practices.
Originality / Value: The study provides novel evidence on the impact of authentic leadership and trust, addressing gaps in the literature and offering relevant insights for regions with similar challenges.
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Revista Alcance is a Brazilian free access journal, published every four months, linked to the Graduate Program in Administration and the Professional Master’s degree in Administration, Internationalization and Logistics Program of the University of Vale do Itajaí – Univali. We seek to publish theoretical-empirical and technological articles in the areas of Business Administration. Different theoretical and methodological perspectives are welcome, as long as they are consistent with and relevant to the development of the area.
