Northouse, Leadership 9e
SAGE Publishing, 2022
Class Activities
Chapter 9: Authentic Leadership
Activities
These activities may be used in either small-group or large-group settings, depending on class size and
Case Analysis
Assign each case to one or more small groups for in-class analysis and discussion. Each small group
Self-Discipline
Ask students to give an example of self-discipline in leadership. Have them develop a learning plan for
themselves to develop self-discipline in a certain area of their lives.
Worth 1,000 Words
In pairs, have students draw a conceptual map of Walumbwa et al.’s (2008) definition of leadership,
Pair, Share
Have students pair up with someone in class and discuss how George’s five dimensions of authentic
leadership apply to them:
• Do they understand their purpose?
• What are the key values they live by?
Northouse, Leadership 9e
SAGE Publishing, 2022
Tell Me a Story
Have students practice telling a story in class about a time when they compromised their values and did
not act authentically. This could be a time of great stress, or where they didn’t handle conflict well.
Will the Real Millennials Please Stand Up #2?
In class, have students discuss whether the Millennial generation can or will embrace authentic
leadership. Which of the characteristics attributed to Millennials (individualism, commitment to work-
life balance, and preference for extrinsic rewards) seem to have the most merit? Least merit? For
Writing Assignments
Follow the Arrows
Have students write a 1-page explanation for how the arrows work in Walumba’s Authentic Leadership
Model (Figure 9.2). Specifically, how do positive psychological capacities interact with critical life events?
How does moral reasoning interact with critical life events? How do critical life events influence self-
awareness, and so on? Explanations should be supported with hypothetical or real-life examples. After
Contemporary Leadership
Have students write a 2–3-page reaction paper about a contemporary leader they consider to be an
authentic leader. Students should use specific examples to support their arguments that the leadership
characteristics or behaviors exhibited by this person fit George’s categories. They should also explain
Northouse, Leadership 9e
SAGE Publishing, 2022
Ask Not What the World Can Do for You
Have students reflect on the following questions, choosing two or three to write about in a 2–3-page
essay: What moves you? What kind of issues do you deeply care about? How do you typically become
Critical Life Events
Have students reflect on the following questions, and write a 2–3-page response paper: Identify your
critical life events. How did they change you? How might they affect your identity as a leader? As an
authentic leader? What insights did you gain from this/these experience(s)? When might a critical life
event not help someone become a better leader?
Metaphors
In a one page paper, ask students to reflect on the statement that leadership is like a mantle. What
other metaphors for leadership can they come up with? Which one resonates the most for them? How
can metaphors be useful for understanding or explaining leadership? (Note to instructor: If done as a
class discussion, students may be more apt to think creatively rather than looking up metaphors on the
Internet.)
My Authentic Self
In this writing assignment, students reflect on the emotions and desires associated with leadership.
Have them complete (in class or as homework) the following statements:
As a leader:
I hope . . .
I fear . . .
I enjoy . . .
Northouse, Leadership 9e
SAGE Publishing, 2022
I am grateful . . .
I am sad . . .
I need . . .
I am most in touch with myself when . . .
I am fulfilled when . . .
Internet Activities
Internet #1: Class Blog
In your class blog or chat room, write about some of the discussion questions provided for this
chapter. Some additional questions are:
• How might authentic leadership emerge in an online environment as compared to a face-to–
face environment?
Internet #2: Story Corps
Internet #3: Nobel Peace Prize
Visit Salon.com (an online magazine). In the search box, type in “Nobel Peace Prize” and read several of
the articles that appear, both praising and criticizing the selection of Barack Obama as the 2009
recipient. List the arguments for and against his selection. Using the criteria for authentic leadership in
Northouse, Leadership 9e
SAGE Publishing, 2022
our textbook, which of the arguments for Obama’s selection support his identity as an authentic leader?
In what ways does his selection not meet the criteria for an authentic leader? One of the weaknesses of
the authentic leadership approach is that it doesn’t focus on leadership outcomes. How does this affect
the approach’s usefulness? Can one be an authentic leader without accomplishing group goals?
Internet #4: Create a Prezi
Have students go online and look up the Prezi developed by students at another university:
Internet #5: The Inner Work of a Leader (A, I, H)
There are many clips of Bill George on YouTube. Choose one as a discussion starter for class. One
example is “Bill George on the Inner Work for Authentic Leadership” (about 1½ min long). After playing