Identity Stewardship and Leadership Sustainability: The Role of Self-Leadership and Reputational Capital

Egede; Victor Chukwunonso; Nworie; Chukwuemeka Francis; Saleh; Abubakar Aliyu; Opara; Obioma Andrew; Agoro; Oluwafemi Segun; Okoli; Chika Godwin

doi:10.56201/ijebm.vol.12.no5.2026.pg126.141

Identity Stewardship and Leadership Sustainability: The Role of Self-Leadership and Reputational Capital

Egede, Victor Chukwunonso, Nworie, Chukwuemeka Francis, Saleh, Abubakar Aliyu, Opara, Obioma Andrew, Agoro, Oluwafemi Segun, Okoli, Chika Godwin

Abstract

This study investigates the relationships between self-leadership, identity stewardship, and reputational capital, and their collective impact on leadership sustainability. Addressing a gap in existing literature, the research integrates internal governance mechanisms with external trust perceptions to explain sustainable leadership outcomes. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was employed, combining qualitative insights from 15 semi-structured interviews with quantitative data from a survey of 200 respondents across corporate, community, and family sectors in Nigeria. Quantitative data were analysed using regression analysis based on a structured dataset, complemented by a regression-based simulation approach to model predictive relationships among the variables, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. Findings reveal that self-leadership significantly influences identity stewardship and reputational capital, with all variables emerging as significant predictors of leadership sustainability (R2 = 0.8942, p < 0.001). Reputational capital was identified as the strongest predictor (β = 0.8420), highlighting the central role of external trust in sustaining leadership effectiveness. Qualitative insights further emphasize the importance of continuous self- regulation, ethical decision-making, and long-term orientation, captured in the themes of Internal Audit, Cost of Service, and The Bridge Effect. P-ISSN 2695-186X The study concludes that leadership sustainability is fundamentally rooted in the governance of the self, with behavioural integrity serving as a critical mechanism linking internal values to external trust. By introducing identity stewardship as a dynamic construct, the research provides both theoretical advancement and practical insights for developing sustainable leadership grounded in ethical alignment and reputational strength.

References

Baumeister, R. F., Heatherton, T. F., & Tice, D. M. (1994). Losing Control: How and Why People Fail at Self-regulation. Academic Press. Covey, S. R. (2004). The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness. Free Press. Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2017). Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications. Deephouse, D. L. (2000). “Media Reputation as a Strategic Resource: An Integration of Mass Communication and Resource-Based Theories.” Journal of Management, 26(6), 1091– 1112. Duan, J., Li, C., Xu, Y., & Wu, C. H. (2020). “Transformational Leadership and Innovative Work Behavior: The Role of Psychological Empowerment.” Journal of Business Ethics, 167(3), 653–668. Fombrun, C. J. (1996). Reputation: Realizing Value from the Corporate Image. Harvard Business School Press. Fombrun, C. J., & Shanley, M. (1990). “What’s in a Name? Reputation Building and Corporate Strategy.” Academy of Management Journal, 33(2), 233–258. Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2019). Multivariate Data Analysis (8th ed.). Cengage Learning. Manz, C. C. (1986). “Self-leadership: Toward an Expanded Theory of Self-influence Processes in Organizations.” Academy of Management Review, 11(3), 585–600. Mayer, R. C., Davis, J. H., & Schoorman, F. D. (1995). “An integrative Model of Organizational Trust.” Academy of Management Review, 20(3), 709–734. Neck, C. P., & Houghton, J. D. (2006). “Two decades of Self-leadership Theory and Research: Past Developments, Present Trends, and Future Possibilities.” Journal of Managerial Psychology, 21(4), 270–295. Neck, C. P., & Manz, C. C. (2010). Mastering Self-leadership: Empowering yourself for Personal Excellence (5th ed.). Pearson. Palanski, M. E., & Yammarino, F. J. (2007). “Integrity and Leadership: Clearing the Conceptual Confusion.” European Management Journal, 25(3), 171–184. Simons, T. (2002). “Behavioral Integrity: The Perceived Alignment Between Managers’ Words and Deeds as a Research Focus.” Organization Science, 13(1), 18–35. Sinek, S. (2014). Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t. Portfolio Penguin

Identity Stewardship and Leadership Sustainability: The Role of Self-Leadership and Reputational Capital

Abstract

References

More Articles from IIARD INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT