Authentic Leadership: A study of UK SMEs

Project summary

This project will explore the lived experience of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) leaders in the UK. This research project aims to provide a nuanced conceptualisation of authentic leadership by critically examining the behaviours of an authentic leader within the context of SMEs.

Project outline

The scandals in companies such as Enron, the banking sector and the cost of living crisis have fuelled an increased interest in a leadership approach, which embodies integrity and increases trust within organisations. The result is a proposed theory of authentic leadership. Authentic leadership involves greater self-awareness and self-regulated positive behaviours on the part of leaders (Luthans and Avolio, 2003). These leaders should have self-knowledge, and clarity of their values, and enact their roles based on their values and convictions (Shamir and Eilam, 2005). Although much work has been done in the domain of ethical leadership where some of its concepts emerged, at present the domain of authentic leadership requires much empirical work. Authentic leadership research is primarily formative, and the concept is still being defined (Caza and Jackson, 2011; Harrison, 2018). Despite the growing interest in and theories proposed by scholars on authentic leadership, there exists little underpinning empirical evidence (Harrison, 2018).

This research project aims to examine authentic leadership using SMEs in the United Kingdom. The study will provide a nuanced conceptualisation of authentic leadership by critically examining the behaviours of an authentic leader within the context of SMEs. Specifically, the focus of this research will be on authentic leadership within small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the UK. The UK provides a unique and dynamic context in which the study can be examined. SMEs account for three-fifths of the employment and around half of the turnover in the UK private sector (Federation of Small Businesses, 2022) and hence are arguably the engine of growth of the economy.

This research project will adopt a qualitative approach to fully understand and explore the in-depth experiences of the main stakeholders. Semi-structured interviews will be the mode of data collection. From the study results, a vivid picture of authentic leadership in the UK will be formed.

In practice, the findings of this study will serve as a useful reference for practitioners and policymakers of the behaviours and implications of authentic leadership for different stakeholders in both UK and international organisations. The key lessons from this UK test bed can be widened to encompass other countries in further work.

Name of potential Director of Studies

Christian Harrison is a Professor of Leadership and Enterprise at the University of Bolton. He is the Director of the Centre for Leadership and Empowerment. Christian is a well-known and recognised scholar in the field of Leadership and works globally on research projects providing regular expert media commentary on Scottish Television News (STV), Scotland Tonight, the Herald, the Conversation etc. He is also the author of numerous published research papers on Leadership which is his major research interest and serves as the Director of Studies of several doctoral students. He has successfully supervised several doctoral students to completion and his current students are working on projects on Authentic leadership, Entrepreneurial leadership etc. He has also examined over 30 doctoral theses to date.

Furthermore, he is an active member of several learned organisations. He is the Chair of the Leadership and Leadership Development Special Interest Group of the British Academy of Management and Chair of the Academy for African Studies. He is an external examiner to several UK universities and the editor of New Frontiers in African Business and Society by Emerald Publishing. He is also the editor of Routledge Studies in Leadership and Leadership Development, associate editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Business Research and Management and associate editor of the Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. He sits on the Editorial Board of Leadership and the International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Christian works extensively as a consultant and trainer on organisational leadership skills development. He has delivered several CPDs and sessions on leadership to the Scottish Government Directors, UK Cabinet office staff, corporate organisations, SMEs etc. He is the founder of the NGO; The Leadership Mould Initiative International. The NGO supports students and moulds future leaders. He is the author of the book entitled ‘Leadership Theory and Research: A Critical Approach to New and Existing Paradigms’, which is published by Palgrave MacMillan. In addition, Christian has also authored several video publications on leadership providing a nuanced conceptualisation of the field.

Christian has won several awards based on his expertise. He was the top academic commentator at the University of the West of Scotland for 2022, with his analysis appearing in 215 publications. He was the recipient of the Award for Outstanding Leadership by the Nigerian Society of Engineers in 2022 and has won several best paper awards from the British Academy of Management.

GMBS research strategy themes: Centre for Leadership and Empowerment

The proposed research on "Authentic leadership: A study of UK SMEs" directly aligns with the Centre for Leadership and Empowerment's overarching strategy to research new forms of leadership and management with a focus on ensuring gender equality, inclusivity, diversity, wellbeing and empowerment. This project will support individuals, teams, groups and organisations looking to develop their leadership ability to thrive and succeed in a dynamic and turbulent environment.

Contribution to the research environment in your department and how this doctorate will strengthen the overall research culture of GMBS.  

The project will deliver high-quality publications and offers an excellent opportunity for generating impact case studies, which could document how the research has influenced real-world business practices or even broader economic development to make significant contributions to multiple facets of the REF 2028 strategies, thereby enhancing the institution's standing in research excellence, impact, and collaboration.