Abstract
Delving into the realm of higher education, this study examines the intricate relationship between authentic leadership, organizational innovation, and error management. Utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), data was meticulously collected from faculty and staff members within Idaho's Higher Education Institutions. The primary objective was to scrutinize how authentic leadership influences both organizational innovation and error management, while also investigating the potential mediating effect of error management in the association between authentic leadership and organizational innovativeness. The analysis unveiled noteworthy positive correlations between authentic leadership and both error management and organizational innovativeness. Interestingly, despite initial expectations, error management did not emerge as a mediator in the linkage between authentic leadership and organizational innovativeness. These findings underscore the paramount importance of authentic leadership in nurturing organizational innovation and facilitating effective error management within the intricate landscape of higher education institutions. This research sheds light on the dynamic interplay between leadership authenticity, innovation, and error handling, offering valuable insights for educators, administrators, and researchers alike.