The authentic leader in times of crises: a portrait of the effects of authentic leadership on the well-being of its employees during the COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose: The pandemic caused by the new new-sars-cov-2 variant significantly modified working conditions. In this context of crisis, leaders have come to occupy an even more sensitive and strategic place for companies. In this way, this article intended to study how an authentic leadership style could influence employees during the pandemic caused by COVID-19. Methodology: We used a quantitative approach. More specifically, through Structural Equation Modeling, by the SmartPLS 3.0 software, we analyzed data from a survey conducted with 1142 participants. Findings: The results show that organizations led by leaders who are considered authentic by their employees are more likely to take particular actions during the COVID-19 pandemic, which contributed to reducing work stress. Additionally, the presence of an authentic leader presents a direct influence on the professional stress levels decreasing of the respondents. Originality: Several studies have analyzed professional contexts during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they have made little correlation with the adopted leadership style, as in this study. In addition, the scope of the sample and the use of Structural Equation Modeling make the article unique.