A consistent body of research has shown that the leader who wishes to influence the attitudes of peers and subordinates must establish and maintain his or her credibility. The role of the leader's credibility is explored in this article, along with other communication elements that determine personal influence and leadership effectiveness. As a framework for this strategy, Heider's Balance Theory is employed, examining three parts of the work environment - the supervisor (S), the employee (E), and the task (T). The perception of each of these by the employee will determine the amount of committment the employee is likely to invest in the task.
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