Machiavellianism and Grit in Leaders: Exploring their Impact on Employees' Attitudes

Abstract

Emotions are surely difficult to describe. Merriam-Websters' definition of odyssey may be one of the finest attempts at describing what a doctorate is: "a long wandering or voyage usually marked by many changes of fortune". Along the way of those changes of fortune, several people contributed so that I could have much more positive than negative moments. First, I would like to thank my supervisors, Professor Luísa Pinto and Professor Arménio Rego. Often, I would find them just as excited as I was with the research, and that says plenty about their human dimension and commitment. I am also grateful for all the support I received from Professor Maddalena Sorrentino and Professor Maria-Laura Toraldo during my period at the Università Degli Study di Milano. A thankful acknowledgment for all the contributions made by the participants of the EURAM 2019 Doctoral Colloquium, the Doctoral Workshop on Advanced Topics, Theories and Methods in Public Management, and both assessments held at University of Porto - Faculty of Economics. I would also like to thank the respondents of the questionnaires, for their time and interest. I would like to extend my appreciation to my doctoral colleagues, especially to Luís Marques, for the continuing support and advice given along the way. Finally, I would like to give a special thank you to... ...my parents, for their support throughout my 20-year-long academic career, in which they made sure I had all the possibilities to succeed; ...my grandparents, who contributed to my academic and personal success; ...Nela and Carlos, for believing in me; ...Ana, for so many reasons that it is difficult to express in words the amount of gratitude I owe you. Your support on this joint journey was beyond anything I could have asked. I look up to you and I feel humbled that I have received so much care from someone like you.