The Impact of Authentic Leadership on Reducing Perceived Workplace Exclusion: The Moderating Roles of Collectivism and Power Distance Orientation in a Workplace

Abstract

This study examined the impact of authentic leadership on perceived workplace exclusion and explored the moderating roles of cultural orientations, specifically collectivism and power distance. The data for this research were collected through an online survey from 387 faculty members across six universities in China. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling was utilized for data analysis. The findings revealed a negative association between authentic leadership and perceived workplace exclusion. Furthermore, the moderating effect analysis demonstrated that authentic leadership had a stronger impact in reducing perceived workplace exclusion when the workplace culture emphasized collectivist orientation. Conversely, the effect of authentic leadership in lowering perceived workplace exclusion was weaker in contexts characterized by a high power distance orientation.