Building Relationships : Assessing the quality of the relationship between leaders and followers as an indication of authenticity vs. toxicity

Abstract: Relationships are so entrenched in the social interaction between individuals that most people do not pay attention to them until they experience trouble in their relationship. Humans create new relationships and end old ones all the time in conscious and unconscious processes. This thesis will give a theoretical and practical overview to reveal the process of social interaction which shapes relationships between a leader and a follower. We focus on the necessary components as well as on the process in which the relationship is built. We approach the process of social interaction from both the side of the leader and the side of the follower to create a balanced picture that will provide systematic explanation of this complicated and multidimensional phenomenon. The primary focus of this thesis will be on the origin and development of an authentic, healthy relationship between a leader and a follower.