Leadership and motivation in the African Diaspora: The United States and Canada

This study examines the similarities and differences in the perceptions of effective leadership and motivation among the African Diaspora in the United States and Canada (LEAD). Ten focus groups with a total of 56 participants were conducted in the US and Canada. Using NVivo, results show both similarities and differences in these perceptions. The African Diaspora in both countries described an effective leader as one who is wise and knowledgeable. The African Diaspora in the US also focused on charisma and humility, while those in Canada stressed motivation and inspiration. Moreover, the US participants stated that support and nonmonetary rewards were the major motivators for leaders, whereas Canadian participants indicated task completion and monetary rewards as major motivators. Future directions and practical implications are discussed. Copyright © 2014 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.