The Rise or Fall of Authentic Leadership

The fragility of organisations and society has been exposed by the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic. This has necessitated a demand for a new leadership approach. This study examines authentic leadership by highlighting the complex and problematic nature of the construct. In this paper, the rise and the acceptance of authentic leadership is explored as we seek to advance beyond current conceptualisations. Though, the importance of this leadership approach has been affirmed, scholars are yet to chart a path that provides a second opportunity after failing. We contribute to literature by proposing the authentic leadership plumb line and conclude that authentic leadership should be adopted within organisations, as it facilitates the alignment of the leader-follower interaction.