Northouse, Leadership: Theory and Practice, Seventh Edition: Instructor Resource
Chapter 9 – Authentic Leadership
Questions for Study
1. Be able to summarize the early period of research of authentic leadership. Who are some of
the scholars known for research of authentic leadership? What were their research questions?
2. How are the practical and theoretical approaches to studying authentic leadership similar or
different? How do they compare to the teleological and deontological approaches to studying
ethical leadership?
3. Why is authentic leadership hard to define? Describe the three different definitions of
4. What are the five basic characteristics of authentic leadership according to Bill George? How
does George’s approach compare to the trait approach? The Big 5?
5. What is the difference between passion and compassion in George’s AL model?
6. How are the dimensions of AL related to the characteristics of AL in George’s model?
7. Using Walumbwa’s (2008) definition of authentic leadership, distinguish between leader
behaviors and traits. What are outcomes of authentic leadership? What is the follower role?
8. How is self-awareness in the AL approach different from the psychodynamic approach? Can
you identify a person who exemplifies this component of the model?
10. What are the strengths and criticisms of the authentic leadership approach?