The current study examined the influence of supervisor communicator competence and leadership style on employee job and communication satisfaction. Participants were 220 individuals (116 men and 104 women) working full-time for a variety of companies in the Midwest. The findings indicated a strong relationship between supervisors' communicator competence and their task and relational leadership styles, with supervisor communicator competence being a stronger predictor of employee job and communication satisfaction. More specifically, the findings indicated that supervisor communicator competence accounted for 68% of the variance in subordinate communication satisfaction and nearly 18% of the variance in subordinate job satisfaction. More important, these findings provide an association between communication, leadership, and employee job and communication satisfaction.
Alder, S., & Golan, J. (1981). Lateness as a withdrawal behavior. Journal of Applied Psychology, 66, 544-545.
2.
Anderson, C.M., Madlock, P.E., & Hoffman, P. (2006, April). Leadership, commitment, and attitudes as predictors of satisfaction in small task groups. Paper presented at the Central States Communication Association Convention , Indianapolis, IN.
3.
Anderson, C.M., & Martin, M.M. (1995). The effects of communication motives, interaction involvement, and loneliness on satisfaction: A model of small groups. Small Group Research, 26, 118-137.
4.
Avtgis, T.A., & Taber, K.R. (2006). “I laughed so hard my side hurts, or is that an ulcer?” The influence of work humor on job stress, job satisfaction, and burnout among print media employees. Communication Research Reports, 23, 13-18.
5.
Barnett, R., & Brennan, R. (1997). Change in job conditions, change in psychological distress, and gender: A longitudinal study of dual-earner couples. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 18, 253-274.
6.
Berman, S.J., & Hellweg, S.A. (1989). Perceived supervisor communication competence and supervisor satisfaction as a function of quality circle participation . Journal of Business Communication, 26, 103-122.
7.
Blau, G. (1985). Relationship of extrinsic, intrinsic, and demographic predictors to various types of withdrawal behaviors. Journal of Applied Psychology, 70, 442-450.
8.
Bryman, A. (1992). Charisma and leadership in organizations. London: Sage.
9.
Campbell, K.S., White, C.D., & Johnson, D.E. (2003). Leader-member relations as a function of rapport management. Journal of Business Communication, 40, 170-194.
10.
Cartwrite, D., & Zander, A. (1960). Group dynamics—research and theory. Evanston, IL: Row Peterson.
11.
Castaneda, M., & Nahavandi, A. (1991). Link of manager behavior to supervisor performance rating and subordinate satisfaction. Group & Organization Management, 16, 357-366.
12.
Crino, M.E., & White, M.C. (1981). Satisfaction in communication: An examination of the Downs-Hazen measure. Psychological Reports, 49, 831-838.
13.
Cushman, D.P., & Craig, R.T. (1976). Communication systems: Interpersonal implications . In G. R. Miller (Ed.), Exploration in interpersonal communication (pp. 37-58). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
14.
Fairhurst, G.T. (1993). The leader-member exchange patterns of women leaders in industry: A discourse analysis. Communication Monographs , 60, 321-351.
15.
Fleishman, E.A. (1973). Twenty years of consideration and structure. In E. A. Fleishman & J. G. Hunt (Eds.), Current developments in the study of leadership (pp. 1-37). Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press.
16.
Gruneberg, M.M. (1979). Understanding job satisfaction. New York: John Wiley.
17.
Hall, R.J., & Lord, R.G. (1995). Multi-level information-processing explanations of followers' leadership perceptions. The Leadership Quarterly , 6, 265-281.
18.
Harris, L., & Cronen, V.E. (1979). A rules-based model for the analysis and evaluation of organizational communication. Communication Quarterly, 27, 12-28.
19.
Hecht, M.L. (1978). The conceptualization and measurement of interpersonal communication satisfaction. Human Communication Research, 4, 253-264.
20.
Hemphill, J.K., & Coons, A.E. (1957). Development of the leader behavior description questionnaire. In R. M. Stogdill & A. E. Coons (Eds.), Leader behavior: Its description and measurement (pp. 6-38). Columbus: The Ohio State University, Bureau of Business Research.
21.
Hersey, P. (1984). The situational leader. Escondido, CA: Center for Leadership Studies.
22.
Hilgerman, R. (1998). Communication satisfaction, goal setting, job satisfaction, concertive control, and effectiveness in self-managed teams . Dissertation Abstracts International, 59, 1661.
23.
Holladay, S.J., & Coombs, W.T. (1993). Communication visions: An exploration of the role of delivery in the creation of leader charisma. Management Communication Quarterly, 6, 405-427.
24.
Iverson, R.D., & Deery, S.J. (2001). Understanding the “personological” basis of employee withdrawal: The influence of affect disposition on employee tardiness, early departure, and absenteeism. Journal of Applied Psychology, 86, 856-866.
25.
Korte, W.B., & Wynne, R. (1996). Telework: Penetration, potential and practice in Europe. Amsterdam: Ohmsha Press .
26.
Likert, R. (1961). New patterns of management. New York: McGraw-Hill.
27.
Likert, R. (1967). The human organization: Its management and value . New York: McGraw-Hill.
28.
Locke, E.A. (1976). The nature and causes of job satisfaction. In M. D. Dunnette (Ed.), Handbook of industrial and organizational psychology (pp. 1297-1349). Chicago: Rand McNally.
29.
Madlock, P.E. (2006a). Do differences in displays of nonverbal immediacy and communicator competence between male and female supervisors affect subordinates, job satisfaction. Ohio Communication Journal, 44, 61-78.
30.
Madlock, P.E. (2006b, November). Supervisors' nonverbal immediacy behaviors and their relationship to subordinates'communication satisfaction, job satisfaction, and willingness to collaborate. Paper presented at the National Communication Association Convention, San Antonio, TX.
31.
Mintzberg, H. (1994). Rounding out the manager's job. MITSloan Management Review, 36, 11-25.
32.
Monge, P.R., Backman, S.G., Dillard, J.P., & Eisenburg, E.M. (1982). Communicator competence in the workplace: Model testing and scale development. Communication Yearbook, 5, 505-528.
33.
Myers, S.A., & Kassing, J.W. (1998). The relationship between perceived supervisory communication behaviors and subordinate organizational identification. Communication Research Reports, 15, 71-81.
34.
Northouse, P.G. (2001). Leadership: Theory and practice (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
35.
Pavitt, C. (1999). Theorizing about the group communication-leadership relationship: Input-process-output and functional models. In L. R. Frey, D. S. Gouran, & M. S. Poole (Eds.), The handbook of group communication theory and research (pp. 313—334). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
36.
Pfeffer, J., & Salancik, G.R. (1975). Determinants of supervisory behavior: A role set analysis. Human Relations, 38, 138-153.
37.
Pincus, J.D. (1986). Communication satisfaction, job satisfaction and job performance. Human Communication Research, 12, 395-419.
38.
Porter, L.W., & Steers, R.M. (1973). Organizational, work, and personal factors in employee turnover and absenteeism. Psychological Bulletin,80, 151-176.
39.
Postmes, T., Tanis, M., & de Wit,B. , (2001). Communication and commitment in organizations: A social identity approach. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 4, 227-246.
40.
Putti, J.M., Aryee, S., & Phua, J. (1990). Communication relationship satisfaction and organizational commitment. Group & Organization Studies, 15, 44-52.
41.
Quick, J.C., & Macik-Frey, M. (2004). Behind the mask: Coaching through deep interpersonal communication. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 56, 67-74.
42.
Ray, E.B., & Miller, K.I. (1994). Social support: Home/work stress and burnout: Who can help?Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 30, 357-373.
43.
Richmond, V.P., & McCroskey, J.C. (2000). The impact of supervisor and subordinate immediacy on relational and organizational outcomes. Communication Monographs, 67, 85-95.
44.
Richmond, V.P., McCroskey, J.C., Davis, L.M., & Koontz, K.A. (1980). Perceived power as a mediator of management style and employee satisfaction: A preliminary investigation. Communication Quarterly, 28, 37-46.
45.
Rodwell, J., Kienzle, R., & Shadur, M. (1998). The relationships among work-related perceptions, employee attitudes, and employee perceptions and employee performance: The integral role of communication. Human Resource Management , 37, 277-293.
46.
Rubin, R.B., Palmgreen, P., & Sypher, H.E. (1994). Communication research measures: A sourcebook . New York: Guilford.
47.
Russell, S.S., Spitzmüller, C., Lin, L.F., Stanton, J.M., Smith, P.C., & Ironson, G.H. (2004). Shorter can also be better: The Abridged Job In General scale. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 64, 878-893.
48.
Salacuse, J.W. (2007). Real leaders negotiate. University Business, 10, 2-3.
49.
Sharbrough, W.C., Simmons, S.A., & Cantrill, D.A. (2006). Motivating language in industry: Its impact on job satisfaction and perceived supervisor effectiveness . Journal of Business Communication, 43, 322-343.
50.
Shaw, K. (2005). Getting leaders involved in communication strategy: Breaking down the barriers to effective leadership communication. Strategic CommunicationManagement, 9, 14-17.
51.
Spitzberg, B.H. (1983). Communication competence as knowledge, skill, and impression. Communication Education, 32, 323-329.
52.
Spitzberg, B.H., & Cupach, W.R. (1981, November). Self-monitoring and relational competence . Paper presented at the Speech Communication Association Convention, Anaheim, CA.
53.
Stohl, C. (1984, May). Quality circles and the quality of communication . Paper presented at the Speech Communication Association Convention, Chicago, IL.
54.
Taylor, F.W. (1970). What is scientific management? In H. F. Merrill (Ed.), Classics in management (pp. 67-71). New York: American Management Association.
