There is a need for virtuous leaders that have a sound moral compass that guide their actions and decisions towards good and honourable outcomes. In particular, the current research study responded to a call in literature to address an African context perspective of virtuous leadership. Based on this, the aim was to formulate a theoretical conceptualisation of virtuous leadership that was grounded in an African contextual perspective to develop and validate a Virtuous Leadership Scale (VLS). The current research study was a descriptive research design with a cross-sectional approach. Secondary quantitative data and primary qualitative and quantitative data was utilised by means of convenience sampling strategy and snowball technique. A realised sample for the secondary quantitative data (n = 193) and the primary quantitative data (n = 72) was collected from the general working population. A conceptual/theoretical model of virtuous leadership was proposed, which captured seven virtues that encompassed an African contextual perspective: 1) courage; 2) humanity; 3) humility; 4) integrity; 5) justice; 6) prudence; and 7) temperance. Based on this model, items were generated and analysed prior to the development of the VLS. Exploratory Factor Analysis confirmed the unidimensionality of each virtue subscale. Utilising Confirmatory Factor Analysis, the measurement model was found to be a good fit. Furthermore, empirical evidence of reliability, discriminant and convergent validity was found, however, predictive validity was not supported. The current research study developed a valid and reliable scale that measures the virtuous leadership construct. There are limitations, recommendations and theoretical contributions discussed.

[pt] Diante de tantas mudanças inesperadas no cenário global, as maiores implicações são em pessoas e nas organizações. Isso porque é cada vez maior a imposição de antecipar os problemas e reagir às transformações. Devido a este novo contexto em que as organizações estão inseridas, se faz necessário que líderes se aproximem cada vez mais dos liderados, para que seja possível responder à intempérie de maneira proativa, levando em conta as diferenças individuais, diversidade de pensamentos, maneira como os significados são atribuídos e formas de lidar com o novo. Frente a esses desafios, este estudo se propõe a verificar a relação entre as virtudes do líder e a relação líder-liderado associadas a proatividade. O presente estudo foi realizado através de pesquisa quantitativa, baseada em um questionário respondido por 82 profissionais, entre líderes e liderados de uma indústria convertedora de papel localizada no estado do Rio de Janeiro. Os achados sugerem que as virtudes do líder estão positivamente relacionadas a relação líder-liderado, com destaque para a coragem e a justiça, e que afeta positivamente a proatividade dos colaboradores. O estudo aplicou ainda como variável de controle o capital psicológico dos participantes, fator com alto impacto nas relações estudadas nesta dissertação. / [en] Faced with so many unexpected changes in the global scenario, the biggest implications are for people and organizations. This is because the imposition of anticipating problems and reacting to changes is increasing. Due to this new context in which organizations are inserted, it is necessary for leaders to get closer and closer to those They followers, so that it is possible to respond to the elements in proactive way, taking into account indivisual diferences, diversity of thoughts, the way in which meanings are assigned and ways of dealing with the new. Faced with these challanges, this study aims to verify how the leader s virtues and the LMX relationship are associated with proactivity. The presente study was carried out thought quatitative research, based on a questionnaire ansewered by 82 professionals from a paper converting industry located in the state of Rio de Janeiro – Brasil. The findings suggest that the leader s virtues are positively related to the LMX relationship, with emphasis on courage and justice, and that it positively affects the employees proactivity. The study also applied the participants psychological capital as a control variable, a fator with a high impact on the relationship studied in this dissetation.

No description available.