Board Chair Authentic Leadership and Nonexecutives’ Motivation and Commitment

Abstract

Using data from a sample of 606 nonexecutives sitting on boards of a Canadian credit union, this study tests the relationship between chairs’ authentic leadership on boards and nonexecutives’ motivation and commitment. Hypothesis validation indicates that chairs with an authentic leadership style favor motivation and commitment through the emergence of a participative safety climate based on transparency and idea sharing. This relationship is stronger when executives perceive a high-quality relationship between the chair and the CEO. By integrating the literature on leadership with that on corporate boards, our study offers a deeper understanding of how, and under which circumstances, chairs contribute to nonexecutives’ motivation and commitment on the board.