Leader-Follower Communication Research Paper

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Abstract

Communication is an essential part of the leader?follower relationship and more important during a crisis. While much of the available communication research has been leader centric, this study sought to determine what followers want from their leaders concerning communication. To help in answering the research question, the paper utilized a qualitative research methodology with interviews as the data collection tool. Three participants working in the state of Florida, who were sampled through convenient sampling, participated in the study. Data were analyzed to determine emerging themes. According to the findings, followers want communication to be through phone calls and emails, be motivating, empowering, and address cultural and personal concerns. This paper, therefore, concludes that, in the communication between leaders and their followers, followers want formal and humane communication, motivation, empowerment, and communication that meet their emotional needs.

Introduction

Communication is a vital ingredient in the relationship between a leader and a follower. Effective communication helps to not only ensure correct information is passed, but it also serves to motivate the follower and promotes a more synchronous leader?follower relationship (Blendea, 2016). Effective communication involves more than just the transmission of a communication, especially in the context of a leader communicating with the follower(s). Communication has even been more important in the current time, as the world battle with the effects of the Corona Virus Pandemic. As the traditional setups between a leader and followers have been disrupted, communication, which has been typically through face?to?face or other physical contact communication modes, has been transformed to be mainly through virtual platforms.

The ability to communicate is one of the vital competencies for a leader, and effective communication serves to, among others, grow the leader?follower relationship. The ability to communicate effectively allows for the realization of both personal and organizational goals. Within an organization, internal communication is an essential element as it plays a role in the motivation of employees, improved performance, and increased customer satisfaction (Mohanty & Mohanty, 2018). The need to motivate employees is even more relevant at the moment as the normal way of life, the in?office interaction, and income as dwindling for most organizations as an effect of the pandemic.

Statement of the problem

Ineffective communication has significantly detrimental effects in the context of an organization. Of the effects is the lack of asynchronous operation between the leadership and the followers. Most research in the recent past has centered on how leaders can improve their communication (Johansson, 2018; Kamales & Knorr, 2019). However, a vital part of the equation is to know what the followers look for in determining communication as being effective. Unfortunately, there is very limited research on what followers are looking for in a leader?follower communication setup.

Research objective and question

The current seeks to determine what followers want from their leaders about communication. What followers want concerning communication from their leaders varies in style, quantity, and type, among others. This is even more relevant in the current COVID19 Pandemic scenario where the traditional methods and modes of communication have been neglected as the workplace has been moved online with virtual meetings, email, and social media messages, and increased phone calls.

To help is the realization of this objective; the research will seek to determine the research question:

· What do followers want from their leaders about communication?

Purpose of the research

This research will have an important role in adding to the information available on what the follower wants in leader?follower communication. The findings and recommendations after the completion of this research will be essential in informing leaders on how to formulate their communications to ensure they are effective from the viewpoint of the follower.

Outline of the report

This report is composed of mainly five parts; introduction, literature review, methodology, findings, and discussion, then a conclusion. The first part, which is presented above, is the introduction. The introduction brings the reader in by presenting what the issue is and why it is a problem that warrants research. The introduction ends with the research objective and the research question. The second part is the literature review, which is a discussion that highlights what has been done in the field and what previous researchers have found on the topic. The methodology part provides a guide on how data for the current study was collected and analyzed. The discussion part seeks to relate the findings in this research with what has been found established by previous researchers. Lastly, the conclusion will make deduction is the research question, make recommendations for leaders, and possible research items for further research.

Literature review

Studies on leadership communication have been mainly centered on the role of the leader, leadership style, and communication methods (Novak, 2012).

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However, they have begun to realize the vital role that the followers play in ensuring a leader indeed leads, and the ultimate objective of making an organization function as a single unit towards the realization of her mission (Holton, 2014; Novak, 2012). The disproportionate discussion on the role of the leader in communication undermines the vital role of the follower and, in fact, distorts the efforts to understand and contextualize the essence of leader?follower communication. The significance of the follower in the leader?follower communication is shown by the fact that the behavior and attitude of one are sure to affect the relationship and, by consequence, affect communication.

During a crisis, followers are looking to get authoritative information directly from the top leadership. Organizations face several crises, e.g., economic downturns and the current COVID19 Pandemic. During such a time, there are major changes to the team relationships, and organizational life becomes more complex. To wade through a crisis, employees want to hear from the top bosses, and likewise, the top executives want to get feedback directly from the follower (Katiti, 2020; Mazzei et al., 2019). Goncalves (2017) argues that the types of communication that followers are looking for…

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Leaders have a major role in motivating their followers. This role is especially more pronounced during times of crisis. Several respondents in this research also indicated their expectations for their leaders to motivate them.

…balance leadership abilities with management authority but also can shape the atmosphere (USM).

iii. Empowerment

During a crisis, followers will look up to their leaders for empowerment. Empowerment is not just through communication, but followers also need to be empowered through the provisions of the relevant resources to effectively and efficiently tackle the crisis at hand. In this research, the respondents expressed various instances where their leaders empowered them.

The city has allowed workers to work from home to deter the spread of COVID 19. For those who cannot afford the luxury to work from home, additional PPE has been provided as well as screening which calls first responders to respond to, to decrease unessential contact with the public (SOMD).

We take training to deal with extreme situations (shootings, stabbings, murders/attempted murders, suicides, and mentally ill) (SOBC).

In addition to resource empowerment, these followers are also empowered in communication, especially the freedom to raise their opinions without the fear of reprisal, and the feedback they get from their work.

I use my chain of command's open-door policy regularly, and I have not had any issues with reprisal (SOMD).

My unit provides verbal and written feedback frequently… my Commander may provide a task and ask me to develop courses of action to complete the task successfully. That gives me and other deputies ownership of our mission (SOBC).

iv. Cultural sensitivity

Even though one of the participants feels that his leader gives him sufficient and flexible communication that fits his personality and communication expectations, two of the interviewees feel that their leaders do not meet their communication expectations and sensitivities.

When I have direct questions or need prompt answers, the texted responses are delayed, or the responses do not answer/address my questions. His style of communication does not fit with my communication style and personality (SOBC).

My Supervisor (white female) does not proactively reach out and share information or instructions. She should be the one to initiate those conversations. I have to ask her what's on her mind and where her priorities lie in our section. She does not communicate clearly, at all (USM).

Discussion

Communication in the context of a leader?follower relationship plays a very crucial role. While the primary aim of the leader is to transmit information, the follower looks for numerous things, including how the communication is packed, which is the method of communication. The findings in this study show that, while followers are looking for a universally accepted method for formal communications, they are also looking for a way that utilizes aspects of human interaction. Therefore, phone call and email emerge as the most preferred methods of communication, which is in line with the findings by Goncalves (2017).

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