The Effects of Authentic Leadership on Employees' Well-Being and the Role of Relational Cohesion

Authentic leadership has recently become a matter of significant interest in the fields of politics, economics, society, and culture as well as leadership. This study examines the effects of authentic leadership on employees' well-being and determines whether relational cohesion can regulate the effects that occur between the two. In this regard, the study conducted empirical research with 950 employees of Korea's leading manufacturers, public enterprises, and financial firms. The results demonstrated that team leaders' authentic leadership increased employees' eudaimonic well-being but did not significantly affect hedonic well-being. However, when there was a high perception of relational cohesion that showed collaborative and integrated relationships with team members, the effects of authentic leadership on employees' well-being were significantly positive, thereby verifying the interaction effect between the two. In particular, this result stemmed from controlling the effects of transformational and ethical leadership, both of which represent conventional forms of leadership, and is thus significant. Finally, the study provided in-depth discussions on the implications of the research results for organizations and teams.