The Impact of Authentic Leadership on Organizational Commitment: Evidence from Bichena City Administration

Abstract

This study examines how authentic leadership dimensions influence employee organizational commitment in the Bichena City Administration, Ethiopia. To address public-sector bureaucratic inefficiencies and low morale, the study used a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design. Primary quantitative survey data were collected from a stratified random sample of public servants, supplemented by qualitative insights from semi-structured interviews with purposively selected municipal key informants. The findings show a significant, positive relationship between authentic leadership behaviors and overall employee commitment. Multiple linear regression indicates that relational transparency is the strongest predictor, significantly enhancing affective commitment by fostering institutional trust. Balanced processing directly supports continuance commitment, while an internalized moral perspective and self-awareness strengthen normative commitment through heightened ethical responsibility. Qualitative insights reinforce that transparent, trustworthy leadership cultivates a psychologically safe workforce. Ultimately, the study concludes that authentic leadership drives public-sector performance. The researchers recommend targeted leadership development frameworks and institutionalized ethical training to sustain organizational commitment and improve municipal service delivery.