Title: Examining the impact of ethical leadership behaviour on employee outcome: mediating role of empowerment and authenticity

Authors: S. Sekar; Nanjaraje S. Urs; U. Umesh; Suja Sundram

Addresses: Department of Commerce with Computer Application, Government Arts College (Autonomous), Salem, Tamil Nadu, India ' Department of Management, CMR University, City Campus, Kalyan Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India ' Department of Commerce and Management Studies, Amal College of Advanced Studies, Nilambur, Kerala, India; Aided by: Government of Kerala, India; Affiliated to: University of Calicut, India ' Department of Business Administration, Jubail Industrial College, Jubail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract: The study investigates the influence of ethical leadership behaviour on employee outcomes, exploring the mediating mechanisms of empowerment and authenticity in the workplace. Ethical leadership is recognised as a crucial factor in fostering a positive organisational culture, and its effects on employee well-being and performance have garnered increasing attention. To deepen our understanding of the underlying processes, this research examines how ethical leadership practices translate into desirable employee outcomes through the mediating pathways of empowerment and authenticity. The qualitative component of the research enriches these findings by providing insights into employees' experiences under ethical leaders. The interviews highlight specific behaviours and practices that employees perceive as ethical, empowering, and authentic, shedding light on the subtleties of leadership dynamics. The study contributes to theoretical and practical implications by emphasising the importance of ethical leadership and its cascading effects on employee outcomes. The study concluded that organisations could use these insights to refine leadership development programs and create environments that promote ethical behaviour, empowerment, and authenticity. Ultimately, cultivating ethical leadership practices can lead to enhanced employee well-being, satisfaction, and performance, contributing to the overall success of organisations in today's complex and dynamic business landscape.

Keywords: ethical behaviour; empowerment; employee outcomes; team-oriented; values-driven decisions; job performance; responsibility; accountability; continuous learning; job satisfaction; culture; empowerment; personality; work pressure; decision making; honesty; transparency; authenticity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWI.2025.150001

International Journal of Work Innovation, 2025 Vol.6 No.4, pp.380 - 403

Received: 17 Dec 2023
Accepted: 22 Feb 2024
Published online: 21 Nov 2025 *

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