Do Ideals Differ and Matter? An Investigation of Authentic Leadership Ideals Among Norwegian Military Officers Across Generations – and Its Impact on Leadership Practice

The aim of the present study was to learn more about the content of leadership ideals among Norwegian military officers, and to what degree such ideals influence the officers’ actual leadership practice. We have also explored possible generational differences between generation X officers (born betw...

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Main Authors: Olav Kjellevold Olsen, Rino Bandlitz Johansen, Sigurd William Hystad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Scandinavian Military Studies 2021-01-01
Series:Scandinavian Journal of Military Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://sjms.nu/articles/58
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author Olav Kjellevold Olsen
Rino Bandlitz Johansen
Sigurd William Hystad
author_facet Olav Kjellevold Olsen
Rino Bandlitz Johansen
Sigurd William Hystad
author_sort Olav Kjellevold Olsen
collection DOAJ
description The aim of the present study was to learn more about the content of leadership ideals among Norwegian military officers, and to what degree such ideals influence the officers’ actual leadership practice. We have also explored possible generational differences between generation X officers (born between 1965 and 1980) and generation Y officers (born between 1980 and 1998) related to leadership ideals. The sample consisted of 117 younger and 91 older Norwegian officers. The ideals framing the study were operationalized as authentic leadership (AL), portrayed in the literature as an ideal form of leadership. The results showed that the officers in both generations perceived all dimensions of AL as ideal. Younger officers, however, perceived an internalized moral perspective and balanced processing as less ideal than their older colleagues. No relationship between AL ideals and practice was found for the sample, after controlling for the effect of self-evaluations. However, the results indicated a positive influence of ideals among the young officers. These results are discussed in relation to the existing literature and practical implications. Suggestions for future studies are also outlined.
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spelling doaj.art-e5fea0a6f2034f1fa20d35fa8b8da0572022-12-21T20:19:02ZengScandinavian Military StudiesScandinavian Journal of Military Studies2596-38562021-01-014110.31374/sjms.5848Do Ideals Differ and Matter? An Investigation of Authentic Leadership Ideals Among Norwegian Military Officers Across Generations – and Its Impact on Leadership PracticeOlav Kjellevold Olsen0Rino Bandlitz Johansen1Sigurd William Hystad2BI Norwegian Business School; University of BergenNorwegian Defense CollegeUniversity of BergenThe aim of the present study was to learn more about the content of leadership ideals among Norwegian military officers, and to what degree such ideals influence the officers’ actual leadership practice. We have also explored possible generational differences between generation X officers (born between 1965 and 1980) and generation Y officers (born between 1980 and 1998) related to leadership ideals. The sample consisted of 117 younger and 91 older Norwegian officers. The ideals framing the study were operationalized as authentic leadership (AL), portrayed in the literature as an ideal form of leadership. The results showed that the officers in both generations perceived all dimensions of AL as ideal. Younger officers, however, perceived an internalized moral perspective and balanced processing as less ideal than their older colleagues. No relationship between AL ideals and practice was found for the sample, after controlling for the effect of self-evaluations. However, the results indicated a positive influence of ideals among the young officers. These results are discussed in relation to the existing literature and practical implications. Suggestions for future studies are also outlined.https://sjms.nu/articles/58idealsauthentic leadershipgenerationsmilitaryprototypicality
spellingShingle Olav Kjellevold Olsen
Rino Bandlitz Johansen
Sigurd William Hystad
Do Ideals Differ and Matter? An Investigation of Authentic Leadership Ideals Among Norwegian Military Officers Across Generations – and Its Impact on Leadership Practice
Scandinavian Journal of Military Studies
ideals
authentic leadership
generations
military
prototypicality
title Do Ideals Differ and Matter? An Investigation of Authentic Leadership Ideals Among Norwegian Military Officers Across Generations – and Its Impact on Leadership Practice
title_full Do Ideals Differ and Matter? An Investigation of Authentic Leadership Ideals Among Norwegian Military Officers Across Generations – and Its Impact on Leadership Practice
title_fullStr Do Ideals Differ and Matter? An Investigation of Authentic Leadership Ideals Among Norwegian Military Officers Across Generations – and Its Impact on Leadership Practice
title_full_unstemmed Do Ideals Differ and Matter? An Investigation of Authentic Leadership Ideals Among Norwegian Military Officers Across Generations – and Its Impact on Leadership Practice
title_short Do Ideals Differ and Matter? An Investigation of Authentic Leadership Ideals Among Norwegian Military Officers Across Generations – and Its Impact on Leadership Practice
title_sort do ideals differ and matter an investigation of authentic leadership ideals among norwegian military officers across generations and its impact on leadership practice
topic ideals
authentic leadership
generations
military
prototypicality
url https://sjms.nu/articles/58
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