Linking Authentic Leadership to Change-Oriented Behaviors: The Mediating Effect of Workplace Trust

Abstract

The modern organizational environment faces constant change and uncertainty. The modern organizational environment is becoming increasingly complex, dynamic, and commercial. Also, interest in new leadership is increasing due to many illegal activities taking place in society and organizations. To cope with changes, uncertainties, and negative social trends, researchers are paying attention to authentic leadership with a new perspective. This study aims to research the effect of the authentic leadership of the immediate supervisor on the change-oriented behavior of organizational members who can actively cope with organizational change. In this process, the mediating effect of trust in the workplace was empirically verified. For the study, a survey was conducted on 400 office workers currently working at domestic companies. The result of the survey showed, first, that authentic leadership had a positive (+) effect on the change-oriented behavior of organizational members. Second, it was found that authentic leadership had a positive (+) effect on both organizational trust, immediate supervisor trust, and coworker trust. Third, it was found that organizational trust, direct supervisor trust, and co-worker trust all had a positive (+) effect on change-oriented behavior. Fourth, it was confirmed that organizational trust, direct supervisor trust, and peer trust partially mediate between authentic leadership and change-oriented behavior. The study confirmed that authentic leadership and trust in the workplace can have a significant influence on the change-oriented behavior of organizational members.